A/N Soo close to being done! So here's the part where I shamelessly promote myself, with my other story Island of the Birds and my bestest friend Aguna's many stories that I beta! Read and Review my lovelies!
Chapter Seventeen: I Got
"You are sure that you want to do this now?" Wintergreen's wonderfully British voice roused Robin from unconsciousness.
"Both Batman and Luthor are on our tails, I have no other choice." Slade replied in a clipped tone and the teen froze, his eyes still shut.
"He's awfully young." The English man commented in a way that suggested that he already knew he had lost the argument. Slade was terribly stubborn, especially when it came to things he considered his.
"He's nineteen. He's at his peak both mentally and physically. Besides, who wouldn't want to be young forever?" The man replied, rummaging around in what sounded like the silver briefcase. "I simply hope that he is mature enough to handle everything."
At this Wintergreen chuckled loudly and Robin could practically hear Slade's glare. "My dear friend, I think he's had you beat maturity wise for some years now." The ex-hero couldn't help it, he started grinning. "Ah, I see he's awakened." The teen fluttered his eyes open, knowing he had been caught, only to close them again at the rude, bright light above him. After taking a moment to slowly crack open his eyes little bit by little bit and letting them adjust, Robin took in his surroundings. The light above his head that had seemed to blinding at first was huge, the table he was laying on was metal and cold, and the straps binding his wrists and ankles down were padded.
"Slade, what's going on?" Robin tried to keep his voice steady but it fluttered around like a little butterfly. The blue-eyed boy would have turned red in embarrassment if he hadn't been so terrified.
The assassin looked over the boy's shirtless form with an almost apologetic gaze. He had changed the boy into the largest sweatpants that he owned as well so that all the alterations the boys body would undergo wouldn't be hindered. "When I lost my first son, I knew that it was all my fault. I never wanted that to happen again so I did some research. I went to the military, did some hacking, found out just exactly what had turned me into a super soldier. The only problem was after I had gone momentarily insane, they destroyed the serum. It was then that I vowed to find the equation and if I ever fell in love again, protect the one I loved." Slade paused for a moment, seeming to gather his courage. "I'm going to protect you." Even though it was a statement, it came out of the man's mouth like a question and Robin found himself nodding. The teen still wasn't really sure what was about to happen, but he understood that it was permanent. He briefly entertained the idea that they were getting married, but the being-strapped-down-to-a-table part didn't quite fit.
Slade then found what he had been searching for in the briefcase and brought it into the light for Robin to see. Blue eyes grew wide when they landed upon a seemingly huge needle with a clear, thick looking liquid in it. "It's come a ways since it was used on me, so hopefully your hair won't turn white." The mercenary's attempt of humor landed on deaf ears as the ex-hero had a deer-caught-in-headlights look and Wintergreen appeared to be far off in a flash-back.
The needle was moved to Robin's arm, his wide eyes following it the whole way except for when it began to push in. It was then that the teen fluttered his blue orbs shut and focused on breathing while Slade determinedly injected his young lover. There was a tense silence in the room as the last of the serum was pushed into the flesh below and Slade moved away, cleaning the needle. Wintergreen's keen eyes were trained on the teens face as it began to contort. Suddenly Robin's back arched violently and his mouth opened in a soundless scream before he fell back to the table unconscious.
"It has begun." The British man commented grimly. Slade didn't respond. His gaze never strayed from Robin. "I need more tea." With that Wintergreen left, pausing only once at the bottom of the stairs to survey the scene laid out before him. The teen had begun twisting in his sleep-like state and the assassin rushed over to his side, brushing his hair off of his forehead. The old man sighed. Slade was more than likely going to remain tight-lipped until Robin's change was complete so the ex-military man finished his ascent up the stairs, searching out Chipo for some tea and company.
Slade refused to eat. Slade refused to sleep. If he could Slade would have refused to breath until Robin was better. The teen went through periods of being awake and in pain and being unconscious and in pain. It was killing the man to watch but he knew he had to do it. When he looked back at his own life he still would have chosen to take the drug even though he lost everything with it, because later on he had gained everything that he truly wanted.
Most of the time the mercenary worried about what was going to happen when his lover gained full-consciousness. Would he be mad at him? Would he remember him? Would the drug go wrong and make him go insane? Slade knew that the serum had been improved, but by how much? Sometimes the mercenary would grow excited at the prospect of a never-ending future with Robin. One of the man's favorite past-times was thinking of new names for his bird for when they would work together. Slade was positive that they would, maybe not at first, but as time moved on and Robin wouldn't his understanding of mortality would begin to fade. It had for the assassin. And then the teen would be able to kill and do what Slade did. Then they would truly be equals.
When Robin opened his eyes for the first time in two days they immediately sought out Slade. He found the man sitting in a chair next to the table, slightly dozing. The sight made the teen smile before he made to sit up. There was a resistance. Confused, the ex-hero tried again and pulled harder, hearing metal groan as it twisted and leather crack as it snapped. Robin looked down not only to fine the padded restraints that had been around wrists practically shredded, but the metal from the table had also been bent slightly upward. The teen's eyebrows shot up. Had he done that?
"Robin." Slade's voice brought him back to the real world and he looked up. Slade was smiling, looking almost ecstatic. "You're awake."
"I am." The teen answered, his voice sounding lower than usual. He went to undo the straps around his ankles, but paused before flexing his legs and snapping them off. Robin grinned back at Slade.
"I see you like your new-found strength." The man commented and the ex-hero nodded.
"So I'm like you now?"
"Well let's see." Slade brought out a sharp knife and pressed it to the teens skin. Robin merely watched with slight interest on his face. After a second the skin split and blood began to run down his arm. The teen frowned but Slade remained undeterred. A second later the man wiped the blood away and to the blue-eyed boys surprised there was no sign of the initial wound.
"Amazing." Robin still sounded slightly bored but his eyes glittered with curiosity. Slade recognized that look and kept himself from reacting in joy. "But is my hair white?" At this the mercenary laughed out loud with a booming chuckle and swept the boy off the table, noting how much muscle-mass he had gained, before depositing the teen in front of a full length mirror. Robin gaped at his reflection. His bare chest was twice the size it had been, full of defined muscle, and he had grown at least two inches. He was still lean and wiry compared to Slade, but now he actually looked like he could put force behind his blows. The ex-leader of the titans was also pleased to note that his hair had stayed jet black, even though it appeared to have grown some. The only difference, apart from his build, that he could find was that his blue eyes that had been bright before were now so electric that they almost looked fake. Robin leaned in closer, just to make sure that they weren't contacts.
Slade walked up from behind and wrapped his arms around the teens not-so-small-anymore waist before whispering in his ear "you are stunning." Robin blushed but his eyes stayed on his own, still marveling at the intense color. "But I am curious, what happened to Race?"
At the name both males watched in fascination as a yellow tint bloomed from around the pupil of the teen's eye and spread until it looked exactly as it had when Robin had worn the contacts. As this was happening the roots of his black hair had also turned to the sandy-blonde color that it had been previously dyed to and it almost looked like the black was melting off as the blonde took over.
"Well that was unexpected." Slade said dully, too shocked to even show it.
"Apparently I'm still here as well." The teen replied but it wasn't Robin, the assassin could tell by the tone in the voice. "I think the we can control the shift, though."
"Shift back." At Slade's commanding tone Race rolled his yellow eyes but obeyed anyways and black once again took over the sandy-blonde hair while blue overrode the yellow. "Outstanding!" Robin flushed but grinned at the praise. The teen rolled his shoulders, shivering slightly as the brushed against Slade's chest. "Is there something you want to do now?" The man purred and Robin smiled evilly at him through the mirror.
"This isn't quite what I had in mind." Slade nearly panted as dodged yet another crushing blow from his lover. Robin was enjoying his new strength, and it showed.
"Oh, c'mon Slade! We can finally fight all-out now!" The ex-hero grinned at him before moving to attack again. The assassin rolled his eyes before deciding to end the fight. Robin was on the ground in a matter of seconds, pinned by the mercenary but still smiling.
"You have a lot to learn, little bird." The man chuckled before leaning down and stealing a quick kiss. "Which reminds me," he said, standing before helping the blue-eyed boy up, "you need a new name."
"I guess you're right." The ex-hero replied, following Slade out of the gym and into their bedroom. He was surprised to see their suitcases laid open on the bed, ready to be packed.
The mercenary paid no attention to that, however, and strode into the bathroom. The teen could hear the water from the shower started up and a second later a naked Slade appeared in the doorway. "I want you to chose it." He said before beckoning for his lover.
The ex-leader of the Teen Titans paused, racking his brain for a solution. There was a name that he had thought about previously, one that had come up whenever things got too much for him at the tower and he considered going solo. But he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to use it, after-all, that alias was supposed to be a hero, and even though Slade hadn't said anything about their future yet, well, it was Slade. But after staring into the man's gray eyes for a beat the teen felt his mind making up it's decision. "Nightwing. I'll go by Nightwing." And with that he stripped off the sweatpants and joined Slade once and for all.
A/N YAY! Last chapter! But there will be an epilogue so don't freak out. So, was the Robin/Race change thing believable? I guess it doesn't have to be, but whatever. Read and Review! Thank you all so much for your support!