A/N: Uhhhh... I don't have anything to say.
"Ugh! The fuck? You bit me!"
"How observant," Slade wiped a droplet of spittle from under his lip with his thumb, looking amused for the first time since their training began. "Which means you're dead. If you can't dodge me, you can't dodge them."
"They don't move like you do," Robin growled, getting to his feet and rubbing his arm free of the dull pain.
"You've gotten sloppy in my absence." Slade took on another fighting stance and the hero charged.
Training lasted all day with only short periodic breaks in between. True to his word, Slade made sure it was brutal. Robin was amazed at how he could have lost so much stamina in less than a week, but, to be fair, the drug-induced coma probably helped. At least the headache was gone. Now all that remained was a large, one-eyed, pain in the ass.
"I'm alive, aren't I?" the teen smirked after a blocked attack before lunging forward again. "At least I've managed not to get bitten so far."
Slade saw an opening, smirked, and attacked.
"Fuck – Really?" The teen groaned as the man threw him to the ground, sat on his hips and leaned forward.
"You're dead," he smiled above the teen. "Ready to call it a day, or do you want to continue sparring?"
Robin felt cheated. Slade offered a little free-style as an end of the day chance to get even for the rigorous routine. Unfortunately, the teen was too exhausted to put up a good fight and, in retrospect, realized that Slade probably planned it that way.
"Next time, let's start with sparring. It's not fair to tire me out and then give me the chance to kick your ass."
"Hmm. Perhaps I gave you a false impression when I gave you the option to spar," Slade stood to his feet and stretched. "I don't think you could kick my ass, rested or not."
"You say that, but you also had to drug me to put me down."
"Only to keep you from jumping over the side of the building. You're welcome, by the way."
"Oh, yes, thank you for drugging me and putting me into a coma for two days."
"You're welcome," Slade answered rather sincerely, just to watch the teen bristle. "Now get to stretching, or you'll regret it later."
"You were right about the storm," the hero sat up and reached effortlessly for his toes. "I can smell it coming in."
"It'll be a warm one, thankfully. Maybe even enough for a wash."
"Don't say shower," Robin warned. "I'll start crying."
"I meant our clothes, but maybe that, too… The wind pushed out much of the cold front this morning."
"I hate the cold. That's why I picked Jump. We're not supposed to have winters here."
"Ah yes. Sunshine, sandy beaches, sky rocketing crime-rate. Everything a budding young hero could want."
"More or less," the teen said wistfully. "But, God, I miss the pizza joint."
"Don't start crying over that, too," Slade smirked.
"Of all the things I could cry over," Robin began wistfully, but let his sentence fade into an ironic and pained half-smirk.
"Like flushing toilets," the villain helpfully offered a distraction that earned a small, honest smile from the teen.
"It's about time for the check-in," he softly, after some silence. "Maybe we'll get a signal from Bruce."
"Maybe."
"You don't think we will, do you?" He stretched his arms as far back as he could.
"No… I don't," Slade answered, glancing at the hero. "I'm guessing that his comm is broken, or he had to abandon it along the way. That is-"
"If he's alive, yeah, yeah… I just… I don't think he's dead. I can't even imagine it. I know Bruce. I know what he's capable of – what he's survived. I mean, he's the Goddam Batman. He can't die."
"He's changed since then. The Batman you knew is gone; this world has changed him."
"Whatever," Robin rolled his eyes. "We've all changed."
"Touché," the villain shrugged and moved over to their supplies. "Get your staff. We have a small window before the rain hits. I don't want the comm getting wet."
Robin didn't argue. A short moment later, he was holding his extended staff while Slade connected the wires to the side with the duct tape.
The static began soon after Slade began winding the tiny handle. Robin bit his tongue hopefully as he watched the man adjust the knobs, never breaking the steady rhythm that powered the device. Minutes passed, each second a painful reminder of what was at stake.
The hero's jaw was set tightly as they waited through the static. A small part of him was silently impressed and thankful at Slade's patience. He somehow expected the man to give up quickly, but he seemed every bit as determined to receive a signal. It was over an hour when the teen finally lowered his fatigued and shaking arms.
"Enough," he said quietly, eyes blurry and a deep blush set over his face. "That's enough for now."
"You're sure?" Slade asked almost skeptically.
"Yeah," the answer came in the same quiet monotone. "Let's get some food. I'm starving."
The older man obeyed silently, securing the communicator and preparing their meals with a few stoic glances at the teen. Robin seemed lost in thought, staring out into his dead city with a forlorn expression that only broke when the first drops of water fell from the sky.
"Ah, looks like it's finally here," Slade said when the rain began hitting thicker and faster. He handed the teen one of the plastic sachets and a fork. "Eat up, or you'll really get that shower."
"Do you think we can leave tomorrow?" he finally spoke, turning to Slade with widened eyes.
"No. Day after, most likely. But not if the rain continues."
"And if the rain goes for days?" the teen eyed the remaining MREs.
"Then I'll give you my rations while we wait," Slade answered nearly reading the young man's mind. "I don't want you dangling over the building if everything is slicked up."
"Does your… weird body thing allow you to go a long time without eating?"
"I'll feel it, and it might slow me down a little, but it won't put me out like it would you."
"You're a pretty handy bastard to have around."
"I should probably take that as a compliment?" Slade gave a smile and took a bite from his pouch.
"Take it in good health," the teen raised his pouch in a toast, smirking.
A/N: I'm going to go play Lollipop Chainsaw now. Byyyye~