So Afraid Of Deaths Door
Chapter 3: Fierce Fever
A/N: Well, here's your fluff buddy, hope you like!
Description: It finally happened, Slade Wilson knew it would happen sooner or later thanks to his time in the military, but he had hoped to be more ready for it. After the zombies come in massive numbers, Slade loses his two sons and wife, but is immune to the virus thanks to military experiments in his youth. But now, Slade finds a six year old orphaned acrobat while traveling and trying to survive, can he protect this little boy from harm, or will he fail another son?
Note: This story will have random updates and may not update for a month or two at a time.
Preview For Chapter: Slade and Robin arrive in a small village only to find out that Robin has contracted a terrible fever, resulting in both of them flashing back to old memories of Robin's childhood and of Slade's days with his children.
Slade Wilson bit back a sigh as he walked a bit slouched, he had to, considering his left hand had a death grip on a rife and the other was wrapped securely around Robin's left hand. The boy was still skittish of Slade, but he had grown far more dependent on his then before. Slade had heard Robin tell him that he had been with the Titans for only a month, the other four after the apocalypse were spent mostly by himself since his parents were dead by the time the zombies came. How he survived, Slade was clueless, but he had a feeling that the boy was skilled enough to protect himself if he needed to. Suddenly, Robin's puppy Ace began to let out a warning bark, great, like Slade really needed to put up with MORE zombies.
The first three months of the apocalypse had been literally hell on earth, but in the last two months, the zombies had died down to a degree. People still died from zombie attacks, but now they were more of a side battle compared to the new mafia groups and fake governments that had popped up recently. However, Slade really never bothered with politics even as a soldier back in the day, he had felt it was out of his hands either way. Besides, Slade already knew what he was going to do now.
He had it all set up too, he knew of a woman known as Diana that took in orphans and raised them to fight the evil in the world and protect themselves. The two had known each other before the zombie stuff, and Slade felt it was best to just drop Robin off with her then get back on schedule. He knew Robin would hate him when he found out, and maybe even try to run away, but Slade couldn't carry a child around, he wasn't exactly the 'Loving Father' type anymore. However, he knew that if he still was able to care for a child that he'd adopt Robin in a heart beat, the child was open for endless potential it seemed like.
Slade refocused on the zombies slowly limping towards them, before he could draw his gun, Robin had let go of Slade and ran forward with a small hatchet in hand and sceaming bloody murder into the sky. The mercenary tried to stop him, but Ace and Robin were already mauling and killing the zombies in seconds, how a four year old knew how to back flip, he'd never know. Of course, Slade thought, wasn't the child originally from a circus or something, didn't he mention that? This would require further research, however, as Slade watched that boy stand with his dog next to him on top of seven dead zombies, he really didn't want to give Robin up anymore. He couldn't leave him... but... was it best?
" Slade, did you see?" Robin asked as he pulled on Slade's sleeve and stared up at him with huge masked eyes that begged for praise.
Slade smirked, he had abandoned his own mask and hoped to see Robin's eyes soon. "Yes, I did Robin, very impressive fighting." He praised, Slade briefly watched as Robin seemed to soak up the affection like a sponge.
Robin smiled as he retook Slade's hand and led the way towards an upcoming city/shelter town called Metropolis, or at least, what was left of it. It had long since been mostly destroyed after several riots took place a week after the zombies came, people had steered clear of this city for awhile. But now, it was one of the only safe places left in the world. Slade considered carrying Robin, but the boy refused such Childish Treatment' as he had so clearly put it. It still worried Slade though, the child looked like Grant in certain ways save for the masked eyes (He had had yet to catch a glimpse of them), but he acted far more like Joey then Slade had accpected. However, Robin was different then both of the two sons and acted a bit like Slade had as a child, he refused help most of the time, rarely showed fear or terror and never backed down from a fight. All in all, Slade knew that this child would probably be the death of him.
"Mister Slade... why are we in Metropolis anyways?" Robin asked innocently.
Slade hid a sad sigh. "Well... I need to take you to someone Robin..." He trailed off.
Robin froze and let go of Slade's hand. "But... I thought..."
"I can't take care of a four year old child Robin, I'm a mercenary for gods sake, I'll only get you killed." Slade admitted.
Robin glared at the man he had once seen as a father or hero... now that saint was a monster. Just like everyone else, he was leaving him, but now it wasn't through death... unless he committed suicide! Gosh, Robin didn't think he was that horrible to be around...
Right?
Oh who was he kidding. Everyone hated him, and why, he knew the answers all too well. He was bad luck, anyone who tried to protect him died, no matter what he did. But still, he never ASKED to be a walking nightmare, all he wanted... was to be wanted by someone. Was that so wrong? Suddenly, a loud coughing fit left the child's mouth, making him stumble and fall. However, Slade caught him before he could hurt himself from the fall. Robin pushed him away.
"No... your not my hero anymore." Robin growled as he tried to get away, but was held down.
Slade removed a glove and felt the child's forehead, he was burning up! But the comment... it hadn't gone unheard. The boy, he thought Slade was his... hero? It confused the man to no end, usually he was seen as hell or satin itself. The man ignored Robin's yells and carried him towards a hospital as they neared the city.
Surprisingly, no one had really 'swarmed' to the hospitals like they did to the stores and farms. Slade took advantage of this and rushed Robin into an abandoned hospital room after entering the building and hacking it into going on lock-down mode. He carried the sick boy into the room and tucked him into a bed, quickly gathering the necessary items for a check-up.
~So Afraid Of Deaths Door~
After the check up was done, it was official...
Robin had a fever.
It wasn't in critical quite yet, but he was still horribly sick. He had been fine that morning, but Slade really blamed the place the boy had been living at, the place had been filthy and dirty. Really, it was no place for a four year old to be living in. Slade wiped the hair out the birds face as he watched Robin sleep peacefully, ever so quietly, he removed the boys mask. The bird looked even younger without the mask, but still, he felt bad about taking the mask without permission from Robin in advance. Meanwhile... he wondered what Robin was dreaming about...
~So Afraid Of Deaths Door~
"Its okay Richard, you'll be okay soon." Mary Grayson told her three year old son as he puked into a toilet in the back of the trailer.
It was early fall maybe, she and her husbands family plus Richard all lived as circus performers, but currently, her little robin was struck with a terrible case of the flu. She was worried sick about him, but Richard was strong, unless he was sick... then he tended to be even MORE timid then usual.
Richard wheezed. "Mama... I fell bad." He whimpered.
Mary rubbed his back gently. "Deep breaths my little robin... deep breaths."
The boy did as he was told, breathing in and out as much as possible until the horrible job was over and done with. He grimaced, it smelt awful, he felt even worse since it was a bit... everywhere. It wasn't his fault... he was a messy vomiter after all.
"Sorry mama." Richard whispered as his mother helped carry him to his bed, it had special bed guards to keep him from falling out in his bed.
Mary smiled a smile only she could smile. "My dear robin... never apologize for your sickness... its never your fault for being sick." His mother told Richard. "My little bird, I love you so much."
"I love you too mama." Richard whispered before promptly passing out into his sleep.
~So Afraid Of Deaths Door~
Slade Wilson sighed as he rubbed his eldest son Grant's back as he vomited into a bucket next to his bed. How was it that Grant always vomited as his first sign of sickness, no sore throat, no dizzy spells, no, it HAD to be puke didn't it? Oh well, Slade didn't blame the poor boy, he was probably hurting way more then his dad was at the moment.
At least he wasn't a messy vomiter.
"Hey dad." Grant said.
Slade turned his attention back to Grant. "Yes?" He asked in return.
"Why do I have to puke when I get sick?" He asked in a way that four year old's like himself tended to ask.
Slade decided to be funny. "Well, its either when your sick or are dying." He joked... kind of.
"I'M GONNA DIE!?" Grant all but hollered at the top of his lungs.
"SLADE!" Slade's wife yelled. "What are you telling Grant NOW!?"
Slade sighed, yeah, his family held little humor in his kind of jokes. "Nothing honey, just joking." He yelled back.
"Dad... I'm sorry for being sick." Grant whispered.
Slade scoffed. "Son, there's no need to be sorry, its not like its your fault. Just remember son, I love you." He told the child.
"I love you too daddy." Grant said before placing the bucket on the floor and blacking out in his bed, with Slade tucking him in before pulling up a chair, he didn't want Grant to be alone when he awoke.
~So Afraid Of Deaths Door~
Both Slade and Robin awoke at the same time as a bomb exploded outside, they had been out for at least twelve hours by now judging by the dawn coming outside and it had been sunset when they fell asleep last night. Slade rubbed his face as he shook Robin's shoulder.
"You feeling better Robin?" He asked.
Robin stared at Slade. "Yes... thanks to you..." He added.
Suddenly, Slade stared deep into beautiful baby blues as he saw Robin's eyes, the boy noticed and suddenly slapped both hands over his yes.
"No! Don't look!" He demanded.
Slade stared at the child before him, now he knew he was... Dick Grayson. "I'm sorry."
Another bomb went off outside of the hospital.
"We need to go, NOW!" Slade yelled as he scooped Robin up and dashed out the door.
Preview For Next Chapter: Robin and Slade escape the hospital, only to see a group of terrorists in town! Now, they must escape the city entierly, or die trying.
A/N: Cliffhanger! Yeah, I'm an asshole aren't I? Well, I've heard worse, anyways, update! Yeah, you wanted fluff, i give you a bit, BUT THEN SLADE FUCKS IT UP! Yeah, I'm sorry guys, needed to happen to get this going. As always, PLEASE REVIEW!
~Supercasey.