Disclaimer: All I want for Christmas is to just for one day own the TT, but Santa said I couldn't.

A/N: Wow, sorry about the long update! Finals week got a bit crazy then I had to catch my flight. Then when I was all settle, a small little writer's block of all things pops up. So, that's my excuse. Sorry. Ok, with this chapter I thought I do something a little different…a POV. Yep, a POV in the beginning. After this chapter, the action is going to cranked up, along with the angst. A turning point, kinda…about time.

Ch. 9: On your mark, get set…

He's calm and centered as he stands before me, eyes flickering over the security line. He just watches people with a curious gaze. Yet I know better. He's watching, calculating, and timing his entrance with the utmost care. Enter the line at its busiest and walk through before the security guards chose a person for a random pat-down.

My gray eye just stays on his face, our appearances fooling all of London. A father and son saying goodbye, spending a bit more quality time with each other. Something stirs within me. A dark look falls over my features, a pale face with black, crew cut hair. As if sensing the change, the boy turns and locks those encompassing black eyes on me. Black shaggy hair frames the pale, sharp features on his face. Despite being back, Robin has never regained that childish look back. He is still skinny but it's due to more of his taunt muscles than starvation.

A flash of that grin and I know what he is feeling. It's the first time in months that he will be able to roam free without my gaze watching his every move. The sparkle behind the black contacts seeps through. Turning his head, he watches two girls his age, giggling, excited about the trip. One the girls, a brunette glanced up and smiled at Robin. He in turn smirked, causing the girl to quickly glance back down, a blush rising on her cheeks. The boy was flittering.

Anger swells in me. One of these days, my apprentice's cockiness and lack of focus is going to get him killed. As much as I enjoy this part of his personality, it's one of his greatest flaws. Biting my lip, my mind wanders to the true source of my bubbling anger. I was not there when he changed, when Robin's wings began to break. All those careful conversations at the camp and I couldn't witness his transformation—his acceptance. The fruits of my labor had bloomed to life out in the front lines and all I was left with was a willing apprentice. Which is what I always wanted, but deep down my desire to see the struggle had not been fulfilled.

"Dad, I've gotta go now. The flight to Gotham will be taking off soon."

I nod. "Good luck, son, with school."

Robin laughs and rolls his eyes, "Please, school will be a cakewalk." With that, he slings his small backpack over his shoulders—his only luggage—and enters the line. The girls are in front of him. Leaning forward, he starts a conversation with them. I stand there till the trio went through security—one of the girls getting pulled over for a pat down—and watched as they disappeared down the hall.

Durin and Kumi would meet Robin in Gotham. I allow myself a smirk. Even though, he was gone, I still could witness the damage he would inflict. For once, my spare robots would serve something more useful than just rusting in a warehouse. Turning around, I stick my hands in my pockets. With Robin gone for now, I can focus on more pressing issues, such as a certain Bat getting a little to close for comfort.

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The flight to Gotham was uneventful besides the fact that Robin had wooed not only the two girls from the airport but the stewardess as well. Heck, he got a small bottle of alcohol from her to help one of the girls deal with her unease about turbulence. Let's just say by the end of the flight, Sean Vrok was a popular man. Slade has told him once that it was always better to be the sociable one or exude a pleasant aura around him, for it was always the ones with the quiet, antisocial people who tended be remembered if something went wrong.

"Sean is this really your first time in Gotham City?" asked Shelby, the red/brunette girl. She was more talkative and out-going than her friend, the dark brunette named Jess.

"Yes it is," chuckled Robin, "I must say I'm pretty thrilled."

Shelby giggled her face alight with happiness…and attraction. Robin smiled once more. He knew from way before his time with the Titans, that girls had a weakness for accents. It seemed that his time spent in Eastern Europe had provided another tool. Speaking in an accent similar to Russian, Slade' apprentice weaved a story that he was from a rich family back in the Motherland. He was traveling to Gotham to meet his two best friends and accompany them to some ball of a sort. His plane had landed in London but soon was cancelled due to malfunctions. He had to stay the night and the man they saw him with was a security guard who had helped him navigate the large city.

The trio was walking out of the terminal. Shelby was talking to Robin, whom had tilted his head to listen to her. Jess, though, was a little further ahead. Robin spotted a tall, well-dressed black figure, with a small pale-skinned boy next to him.

Durin's face lit up, "Sean!" The young teen ran over and hugged Robin.

Robin grimaced and lightly smacked Durin in the head, "Men don't hug Danny."

Durin stepped back and pouted, but soon found his head held by Robin, whom rubbed his fist into his head. Durin laughed and pried himself away, shaking his head.

Kumi laughed and raised his hand, "Glad to see you again, Sean."

Robin shook his friend's hand, "You too, Kyle."

The two smiled at each other, pleased at how easy their fake names has spilled from their lips. So far their agenda was going as planned. Stepping back, Robin pointed at the girls, "This is Shelby and Jess, we met on the plane."

Kumi nodded at the girls, "Hello."

"Hi!" Durin shook each of the girls' hands.

Robin turned to Kumi, "From what I know of balls, you always need a date, so I figured that maybe…these girls are just so nice and all."

"Oh we couldn't!" screamed Shelby, "I mean, we wouldn't want to intrude and, and"

Kumi flashed his white teeth, "It's ok, Miss. It would be a pleasure to escort you to the ball. Friends of Sean are friends of mine."

Shelby blushed and laughed nervously, "Well, when you say it like that…"

Kumi tilted his arm a bit. Shelby stepped forward and slipped her arm, linking her arm with his. Together the two started to chatter and make their way to the baggage claim. Durin followed behind, grinning at the two, his mind making up new ways to tease Kumi later on.

Robin shifted his gaze over to Jess. Even though she was his first victim, he could tell that she seemed uneasy. "So, are you willing to go to the ball?"

Jess glanced at Robin, her brown eyes studying his black. "I don't know. I'm kinda tired right now."

"Oh the ball is not till tomorrow."

"But still,"

"Do you want Shelby to go alone?"

Hurt flashed across her features. Robin pressed further, "I know you do not trust me completely, but it will be fine." Taking a step forward, he gently touched her hand, "I promise it will be a blast."

Jess looked up into his face and sighed, "Fine. I'll go, I guess."

Robin smiled fully and hugged her, "Thank you!"

Jess laughed weakly and stiffened in his grasp. "We should go get our bags."

Robin broke the hug and nodded, his whole body expressing complete joy at her decision.

If only she knew that her gut instincts were right, if only she had stuck to her stubborn streak and said no. But, she couldn't resist the sad look in his eyes or that soft, purr voice that for a moment seemed to lose its' accent. Sadly, later that night with the hastiness of finding luggage and a hotel before planning out tomorrow's events, her mind forgot those little out-of-place characteristics and she soon found herself looking forward to going to the ball.

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Robin started down at the queen size bed and felt himself fall. Landing face first, he let his body take in the soft mattress. Turning his head to the side, he gazed at the black screen TV. Who would have thought that pretending to be all nice and friendly was such an exhausting job? Throughout the whole day, he had found his façade starting to crack, but he forced himself to go. He wasn't one to give up, and even though this was no full out fight, the outcome of his actions was important. When Kumi had told Robin that they would meet their contractor at a ball, Robin knew that if they were to slip in and blend, they would need dates. Thankfully, two girls had fallen prey and now all the bases were covered.

Closing his eyes, a shiver ran through his body. He had hugged a girl. He had put on the romantic act and while it worked he felt disgusted. Now, the old him might feel this way because he played both girls, much like a puppet master. But Seir was just disgusted because he had to play the romance card. He wasn't a romantic person, never was and never will be and just pretending to be all excited and mushy…

A moan escaped his lips. How Kumi did this everyday, he wouldn't know but he would suck it up for now. If Kumi could to do it; then so can Seir. And tomorrow, well at least he knew how to handle balls thanks to his time with Bruce Wayne. Folding his arms, he propped his chin on his hands. He might have to dance with Jess at least once to make sure the act seemed real, but then again, he could just go and get 'swamped' with fellow men and not have time for her. He really wished for the latter.

A tiny jingle sounded from his backpack. Glaring at the pack, a wish that he had some telekinetic power flashed through his mind.

Robin stretched out his hand to grab the bowstaff. His fingers were a hairs breath away. Gritting his teeth, he rose painfully up to lengthen his arm, only to let out a small grunt when a steel boot pressed itself on his lower back.

"You need to become less dependent on your weapon, Apprentice."

"What I need is telekinesis," grunted Robin as he wedged out an s-shaped metal projectile and flickered it behind him. Slade stepped to the side to avoid the sharp projectile. Robin rolled to his left and bounced back to his feet.

Slade looked down at the boy, "If you had powers, then you would be no different than the others." With that, the master launched forward, a fist flying at Robin's face.

The ringing became more insistent. Robin dragged himself off of the bed. Slade was right, if he had any powers he wouldn't be where he was now. Besides, at times, he thought that he was better than any of the other metahumans. If they lost their powers, they were useless. As a human, he had push every aspect of himself to the extremes and beyond and that was what Slade liked to call his 'untapped potential.'

Zipping open his pack, he pulled out the small cell phone. "Hello."

"Sir?"

"Yes."

Silence, "Deathstroke suggested we should rendezvous some time in your brief visit in Gotham."

Robin narrowed his eyes, the voice sounded familiar. "I know. We shall meet the day after tomorrow at the Natural History museum."

"Isn't that a bit too public?"

"Do you question my orders?"

"No sir."

"Good. Two days then, near closing time." With that he snapped his cell phone closed. Sighing, he walked over and glanced down at the file, where Kumi's plans were in. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. He would need to be on top of his game. Crashing once more on his bed, the young villain didn't even bother undressing or sliding underneath the sheets. He just closed his eyes and fell asleep.

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Well, that's it for now. Who knows, I might update again, you know treat you guys all to an early Chirstmas present XD