For Yami's ficswap. The exact challenge was to write an "...Alternate Universe where Robin never became Robin but was picked up off the streets of Gotham and trained by Catwoman to be Red X, and during one of those times Catwoman's doing time, Red X meets Slade out on the streets." Hopefully it meets expectations. ^^


Title: Honour Amongst
Part: 1/1
Author: Ginzai
Series: Teen Titans
Timeline: TWT AU. Robin's around seventeen though, if that helps.
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Slade/Robin
Length: around 5940 words
Warnings: Language, complete AU. Unbetaed, so if you've got suggestions then please let me know as I'm desperate to find any rough spots.

Oh, and thanks Katarik for offering to beta. Anything that you can tell me about the fic would be *really* appreciated, I just hated how late I was with responding to Yami's challenge that I wanted to get it out. ^^;

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I've gotta say what I've gotta say
And then I swear I'll go away
But I can't promise you'll enjoy the noise
I guess I'll save the best for last
My future seems like on big past
You'll live with me 'cause you left me no choice

- Slipknot, "Duality"
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Robin swooped through the night, body easily loosing itself to the joy of the air, the feel of it racing past his face and swirling through his exposed hair. He adored this, the sensation of flight as his stomach raced upwards while the rest of him fell fast, street rising up at blinding speed to meet him and only a slender line catching his weight and arching his body upwards to prevent a rather nasty death dozens of feet below.

He'd always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Selina had tried to break him of the habit but some things had simply been too deeply ingrained into him to ever let them go. The love of heights and the view of the world from afar were merely two of them.

Besides, he mused as he finally came to rest on a rooftop, it was a good method of escape. Though skilled, he was no where near his former mentor's level and both of them had known it. All the same, success had been his tonight and he couldn't resist a grin at the remembrance. The only qualm he had was how easy it had been. Robin thrived on challenges, and he had yet to take a job that came close to a proper one, at least when Gotham's protector hadn't been involved. It was all almost methodical; research first, then staking out to discover weaknesses, and finally the heist itself. The most dangerous part about the whole affair was afterwards, when cockiness could promote impulsiveness, and worse, arrogance.

The thought inspired action. Robin placed one hand to his belt, felt to be certain his cargo was still in place, and let out a breath of relief when he discovered that it was. He didn't bother to pull it out in order to check on it ("Never pull out the goods until you've reached safety, Robin. It's like asking to be caught.") but gave the slim black bag a final pat and pushed himself back up from his knees.

It wasn't like he could afford to loose it. Selina had a nest egg set aside for a rainy day and she'd been certain to grant Robin access to it, but it was running out fast. At this point, any job was a good job, and they had been scarce since Selina had gotten herself captured by the Bat four months back. He grimaced at the thought.

It wasn't much like there was any lost love *there*. The masked crusader had been at his and Selina's backs for as long as Robin had been in the business, and he felt nothing but a low sort of fury towards the man. Selina liked him; she more than /liked/ him, she /wanted/ him and didn't much care how great an interference he was. Robin felt otherwise. Batman had been trying to get him to see the "error of his ways" for years, but without much effect. Give up his codename of Red X, hell, give up his identity as Robin and retreat back to the long ago abandoned title of Dick Grayson? Go back to ordinary life, or far more likely, juvie, after living it up with Selina? Go to books and rules after swinging from the rooftops, blood alive and the wind on his face?

He'd sooner die.

And he would if he didn't get his prize back to Doctor Chang. What the man wanted with such a slight amount of Xenothium, Robin didn't know and had no desire to find out. All he cared about was the ten grand promised to him for completing the job - and the chance to get his name out there with the higher members of the criminal underground. Much as he despised most of them, no one was willing to hire an unproven thief, particularly one whose mentor had so recently been disgraced.

Enough reminiscing. He pressed a button on his wrist pad and the time flashed up in pale blue numbers. His deadline was oh six hundred and it was just past two. Chang would be waiting and Robin had no desire to be late.

He gave a tug to his mask to ensure that it was properly in place and wished that he hadn't cracked his full one in his last assignment. Much as he loved the feel of the wind in his hair, this half mask left him feeling too exposed. Besides, at seventeen Robin remained slight and without the black and white skull face granted to him as Red X, he simply looked too easy to take advantage of.

Robin peered over the edge of the building, fists clutching the railing and eyes scanning the streets below. He didn't know Jump City half as well as his native Gotham, but he didn't seem to be likely to run into trouble. The streets were calm, brightly lit with streetlamps that didn't bother to cast light upwards. Salt flavored air lapped at his mouth and nose. He could smell the ocean not far off and his mind supplied the sound of waves that his ears couldn't quite hear. All in all, Robin preferred Gotham.

From behind him came the sound of a foot shuffling against cement and instantly Robin had transferred his weight to his hands. The sudden momentum launched him up and he twisted back, flipping over the head of the man standing behind him. Robin landed lightly on fists, legs bent so that he crouched like a cat, and straightened quickly to glare at the interloper, hands raised in automatic defense.

His eyes widened under the mask though he tried not to let his shock show through his body language. The shadowed figure facing him was tall and heavily built, muscular under his orange and black, a halved mask hiding all of his face save one slanted eye. He was currently standing, arms crossed easily behind his back, watching Robin with an air that was undeniably smug, as though he had a secret.

Slade.

Robin had heard of him. It was impossible to move in the business and *not* know of the world's finest mercenary. He'd even shown curiosity about the man, as so little was known about him. Selina had called Slade a riddle and Robin love solving riddles. He just had no idea what the man was doing *here*.

"You heard me," Slade's voice was like raw honey, soft and purring. "Good."

Robin eased himself out of his defensive position and made certain his jump line was within easy reach. From the corner of his eye, he could see the railing just over ten feet away. He was reasonably certain that if things turned ugly, he could make it to the edge and over to safety.

"You sounded like an elephant," Robin retorted. "It would have been impossible *not* to hear you."

Slade closed his one eye and shrugged. He opened it again and gave Robin a slow once over. Robin resisted the urge to flush at the movement; something in Slade's cyclops gaze seemed particularly penetrating, as though all of who Robin was had been exposed and laid open.

"You're cocky. A dangerous trait in thieves, Red X." Slade spoke Robin's codename as though he'd used it for years, with a sense of utter familiarity in his tone that sent shivers down Robin's spine.

"Hasn't stopped me yet." Robin gave another sideways glance to the railing and wished that his mask was full. His usual mask was *much* better at hiding his intentions than this one. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"You aren't curious as to why I'm here?"

It was a dangerous inquiry. Robin cocked an eyebrow.

"If it's not a job, I'm not interested."

Slade moved and Robin had to jump to dodge a vicious kick that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Did the man /teleport/? He'd never seen anyone move like that!

"Good." Slade's voice repeated even as his hands flew out, fists swiping the air and almost connecting with Robin's face. He had to leap into a backwards somersault to avoid the onslaught, touching off on the wall to jump again above Slade's head. A hand snagged his ankle as he tried too slow to pull himself into a tight ball to shield his limbs, and he went sailing back into the wall. He impacted with a crash that shot black sparks into his vision for a dizzying moment, that left scrapes and bruises along his entire right side.

"You are slower than I'd hoped." Slade sounded musing, pausing a moment to allow Robin enough time to pull himself to his feet. "Perhaps this won't be the challenge I'd looked for."

/That/ stung. Robin felt the scowl on his face and didn't bother to try to hide it. He leapt for the other man, feet barely hitting the ground as he surged upwards. Slade dodged the fist Robin directed towards the blind side of his mask but moved straight into the roundhouse kick that Robin spun into when the first attack failed. He was knocked back into the wall that Robin had just vacated.

Robin crossed his arms and glared at him. Fighting wasn't his forte; Selina had trained him to be a thief, not to break goons' heads, but he'd never backed down from a challenge. She'd tried to break him of that habit too.

"Better." Slade murmured. "But I believe I have what I came for."

He took a backwards step, jumped, and flew easily over the corner of the building. Robin raced towards the edge after him. There was no sign of the man, just the streets and the rare lonely car somewhere far below. Wind rose up from the edge to blow through his hair.

"That was bizarre." Robin muttered to himself, brows drawn as he continued to scan the night air below. Finding nothing, he shrugged and without thinking reached a hand down to check on the Xenothium.

It wasn't there.

Shock raced through his system and he could feel his jaw drop open as he frantically first checked his belt and then the rooftop. It was to no avail.

/Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. /

Slade's voice drifted back in his memory and he paused his search, groaned, and slipped down to kneel in the shadows. He'd found what he came for, had he? Apparently so, and it was Robin's head that was going to be on the line as a result. There was no time left to get any more Xenothium. Chang wouldn't give him a second chance. That meant no other jobs. He might as well walk up to the Bat and *ask* to be taken back to juvie.

His eyes narrowed.

Or he could get the Xenothium *back*.

****

It took almost two hours for Robin to catch up with his quarry. Slade was hardly an unknown figure; the mystery that surrounded the mercenary, if anything, only increased the tabs that certain individuals in the criminal underworld kept on him. Robin had a few favors built up and while he hated spending most of them in one evening, he didn't have much of a choice. It was enough to grant him a lead on Slade's location and within two hours, he was sliding his way through the city streets again, intent on his location.

The roof of the Jump City Art Museum was flat and patterned with shrubberies, cut off from the world by a slender metal waist height fence. They opened it on occasion to allow stargazing or for galas and parties, nothing but eye candy for the rich of the city who liked to hobnob with those of a similar ilk. Robin had been there before, less for the parties and far more for the challenge of being a sweet-faced kid making off with a smooth pile of stolen goods for Selina and the challenge of learning all possible break in points or weaknesses in the museum's security plans for himself. Jump City was far enough from Gotham that it made a perfect training place - no chance of his exploits hitting the streets back home, and far enough out of the reach of the Bat to offer additional safety.

He slid over the railing on the northwest corner, one of four points where the cameras' scope was weak. He kept to the shadows as he moved, hugged the wall and went immediately for a glass door. He snorted to himself, looking at it. People never really seemed to think attack could come from above. It was a weakness that he'd repeatedly taken advantage of before, and one that he'd noticed the last time he'd been here.

Robin slid a lock pick out of the lining of his glove, compared it to the lock, and went to work. It wasn't electronic; there was a satisfying click in less than a minute and the door slipped open easily. Robin stood, replaced the pick, and entered the building on silent feet.

Jump City couldn't boast of an art museum half as impressive as the ones in Gotham or Metropolis, for which Robin was grateful. Anything as large as either and he would have to spend hours searching. He checked his watch again and winced to see that it was after four. As it was, two corridors of impressionist work later, he saw his quarry, facing away from him with arms crossed behind his back, apparently studying a worn painting by an artist he didn't recognize.

"So you did manage to find me. I was wondering what was taking so long." Slade's voice was mocking, low and easy, and it sent a tremor of pure fury up his spine. How had the man sensed Robin was there? He knew he hadn't made any noise!

Gritting his teeth, Robin bit out, "Sorry to keep you waiting but I wasn't really prepared tonight to go on a wild goose hunt."

"Oh? You should be prepared for anything at all times. It's stupid to live otherwise."

"You can save the lecture," Robin growled. "I want my Xenothium back."

Slade turned slightly so that his one eye could be seen. He held up a familiar black pouch with it's heavy contents outlined in the thin fabric.

"This?" He asked, and moved his gaze to regard the bag instead of Robin. "I'm surprised that you didn't obtain more. One vile of Xenothium is not going to help you accomplish much."

Robin shrugged. "A job's a job. I didn't need any more." But he did need what Slade was holding. He edged his fingers closer to the release of his projectile X's, wishing that he'd spent more time studying combat. Selina hadn't really approved of it, being far more of a mindset that speed and flexibility would aid far more than the ability to throw a punch, but Robin couldn't think of a way to get the Xenothium back without actually fighting for it. He'd lost the element of surprise.

"So conservative, Red X. You should always prepare for emergencies." That mocking tone was present once more and Robin's full attention snapped back to the other man. "But perhaps an alternative?"

Robin stilled, eyes narrowed. "What sort of /alternative/?"

He couldn't see behind Slade's mask but he was /certain/ that the man was smirking at him.

"How much was Chang willing to give you for this?" He waved the hand with the Xenothium slightly, the vile inside the bag sliding down to nestle at the bottom of the bag and Robin inwardly winced to see it. If it broke... He tried not to think of it.

"None of your concern," He retorted coolly.

"Ah, but if I better his offer?"

Robin blinked. What?

"What?"

"I have business tonight. I'd prefer not to have a tail for it." Robin blinked again, trying to figure out if Slade had just offered him a left handed compliment or not.

"No dice," he said instead. "Chang made the deal and I'm going to hold up my half of it."

Slade shrugged an easy roll of powerful shoulders. "Then I'm afraid we are at an impasse." He turned to examine the painting again. "Do you like art, Red X?"

Robin twitched as irritation rose again. He didn't have time for this. Slade continued on, either not noticing or far more likely, not caring.

"I've always had an appreciation for artistic talent." With his free hand, he gestured to the painting. "A waste. A painting of this quality should be kept in a place where it can be truly admired and brought back to full glory. Don't you agree?"

Robin shrugged. Art history had never been one of his strong suits, but Selina had taught him enough of the trade to recognize what was worth stealing. The painting might have been worth a lot at one point, but time had more than taken its toll. "It's a piece of junk and it would cost too much to restore. About my Xeno-"

"But the *potential*, Red X, remains." Slade cut over him as though he hadn't even spoken. "All it needs is the proper attention and polish."

Slade attached the bag to his belt, then stepped towards Robin, footfalls even and smooth, as though moving less with muscles and bone and far more with the sleek glide of water across stone. Robin held his ground, wishing vaguely that Selina hadn't managed to talk him out of the bo staff ("You're a *thief*, Robin. It's too unwieldy - you could break what you're trying to steal.") as Slade drew nearer, his presence seeming to be larger than life, not just seeking attention but grabbing it in a brutal grip. He stopped within an arms reach of Robin, who tensed, eyes narrowed.

"You'll find that many things merely require proper care in order to shine." Slade placed a hand under Robin's chin and Robin started, attempted to draw back. Gloved fingers caught his skin, held it tightly and Robin knew that there would be bruises there tomorrow. Slade's masked face drew even with his own upturned one, one dark eye glittering with a self-amused stare, and Robin forgot about bruises and pain and even how to breathe.

"Don't you agree?"

Robin attempted a glare and tried to loosen Slade's grasp with his left hand. He used the right to trail downwards to wear the bag was tied.

"I don't care *what* you-"

Slade caught his roaming hand in a bone crushing grasp. He was holding something rectangular, a piece of paper, and Robin automatically palmed it. Slade squeezed once, warningly, before pushing away hard with both hands. Unprepared, Robin stumbled backwards, tripped over his own boots, and had to catch his balance on one wall.

"Better luck next time, Robin."

Robin's head whipped up at the mention of his true name, the name that only Selina was supposed to know, but Slade was gone. Surprise and dismay were still flickering through his mind as training kicked in, needing no conscious direction to immediately start scanning the hall, seeking movement and finding none. He glanced down at the paper, a single white square of firm heavy press with the word "Temptation" written in smooth black print and scowled.

Robin was going to kill him. He didn't care how long it took or how much he had to train, but he was going to kill him and it was going to be slow and it was going to be painful.

He was still brooding over the incident as he made his way to the exit when the security alarm went off.

****

"Temptation" was a club near Jump City Harbor, niched in the darker side of town. Generally catering to the young and to the desperate, Temptation had a reputation for less than savory activities and dealings that occurred outside of the eye, and arm, of the law. It was known too for being a constant masquerade; people didn't want to know the identities of those they mixed with and what might have offered slight allure did nothing but promote the misery of those pathetic who willingly joined its thronging crowds. It was also conveniently close to Chang's observatory, Robin noted with relief. All he had to do, luck permitting, was find Slade, sneak up on Slade, and pick his Xenothium back. Simple.

Only, as he was learning, *nothing* with Slade was simple. That much was obvious by Robin's own hurried escape from the security guards that had swarmed the area, to say nothing of the fact that Slade knew who he was. "Red X" had been the codename Robin had used for years. "Robin" had been his personal name, his private one, that only close friends and family had known ever since he'd first ran away from the boys' detentionary following his parents' death. Friends and family, for Robin, had meant Selina. There was no way that she would tell. It all added up to an even larger riddle, and Robin had always had a thing for solving riddles.

Robin continued plotting various forms of death as he made his way towards the back of the club. There hadn't even been a bouncer; apparently the club owners were reluctant to turn away any that might somehow bring them profit regardless of a much ignored policy of "eighteen and older". As a result, it was crowded with people, and the dim light did little to help. It made the shadows longer, cloaked the wavering dancers until individuals could not be pulled out from the whole and humanity dissolved into a writhing, swirling masked mass that seemed determined to use each other. Though whether for drugs, sex, a random violent encounter hardly seemed to matter.

It made Robin's skin crawl.

He edged around the crowd, peering into darkened corners as he passed, glancing as deeply as he could into the dance floor itself. Strobe lights flickered as he moved, painting the world in flaky shades of green/violet/red/blue/green that made his head hurt and his eyes ache.

There was a balcony above that overlooked the dance floor. He made his way to the entrance and ignored the rope barring passage. A quick glance to either side showed few people paying attention to him and he thanked Selina again for convincing him that pure black was far less attention seeking than his original plan based off circus greens and reds.

The stairs creaked under his feet but he couldn't hear it in the pounding swirl of music streaming in from below. He moved easily, crouched in the shadows for a moment when he reached the top, and seeing no one, moved slowly into the open. The balcony was large, almost thirty feet long, and it showcased the entirety of the depravity below. He stepped closer to the railing, glanced over. People swarmed on each other, ground against one another, pressed too close for breathing or words, and the smell of sweet smoke rose up to greet him like a kiss. The air was sticky hot in the balcony and he could feel sweat started to bead at his temples.

He stepped back again and hit flesh, firm and warm and unyielding. A hand snaked around his waist and another cupped his mouth. Automatically he bit, tasted rust, and drove an elbow back and up. A familiar chuckle hit his ears and he stilled.

"So you did follow," Slade murmured, and Robin could actually feel his lips moving against the skin under his ears, mouthing the words. It sent a shiver racing down his spine, ice cold lightning flickering behind his eyelids. He had to control a moan. "I was afraid that you wouldn't."

His hand lifted aside from Robin's mouth, slipped up to explore the feel of a face and the difference in texture to what made a mask and that which came directly below it.

"I'd follow you anywhere," Robin stated as decisively as he could and thought the effort well done considering the circumstances. "I'm going to get my Xenothium back."

He could /feel/ Slade's grin, lost in the skin of his neck. "So determined. And what would you do in order to reclaim your prize?" His hands moved again, slid down to skim across his back and arc to Robin's side, a light touch that ended at his hip.

So that was how it was going to be. Robin swallowed but it was hardly the first time he'd been thrust into such a circumstance. He tried to squash the small inner voice whispering that in this case, he didn't particularly mind.

"What do you want?" He heard himself answer it, words spilt unheeded from his mouth like another person had spoken them.

"Does it matter?" Slade asked, sounding philosophical. "I always get what I want."

"You always take what you want." Robin countered. His arms were free but he didn't sent either questing towards the Xenothium like he had earlier. In that direction lay failure. He needed a distraction but it was hard to think in Slade's grasp. If the air had been hot before, it was burning now and Slade's arms around him felt like molten iron. "Too many birthdays as a kid where you got socks instead of a puppy?"

Slade didn't answer, but his hands were moving again and Robin let himself arch against them. Slade's mouth hit his skin again, fabric of Robin's uniform being twisted away to bare a collarbone and Robin could see a snatch of short black hair that painted itself green/violet/red/blue/green as the lights flashed. He groaned and Slade reached up to entangle fingers in his hair, pull his head to one side to better have access. Robin pushed to meet it, his back racing across Slade's chest.

"How did you know my name?" The words were breathier than he'd have liked, coming from deep in his throat and Robin had to pause between them to catch enough air to push them out.

"You'd be surprised at what I know."

There was smugness there, in Slade's tone, and Robin growled lowly to hear it. He twisted in Slade's grasp, ignored the sudden protest from his scalp, pressed his hands across Slade's face and met the man's mouth with his own. He could feel surprise, then amusement, in Slade's body language, rippling through skin and cloth. Robin stared for a moment, trying to see what Slade's mask hid, but the lights came directly behind him so that all that was visible was the sharp line of shadow and the glimmer of Slade's eye. Slade's grip changed and Robin found himself pushed back, spine bent and the railing a hard, sharp line across his skin. A hand caught his hair painfully tight grasp that in a way was perfect.

Slade kissed like he fought, brutal and mysterious, always with something new to add, some other level to take it to. Robin returned it with equal fervor; he was the first to send a tongue questing, the first to let his fingers trail over the collar of Slade's shirt, dipping inside to test the flesh beneath.

Both of Slade's arms were wrapped about him now, the man pressed almost shockingly close. Something long and hard was pressing hot against his hip, impossible to ignore and likewise impossible to forget his own match. Robin threw his head back and Slade followed, burning mouth against heated skin. Robin's spine began to complain in low tones easily ignored in favor of what the rest of his body was telling him. He let one hand twine around Slade's neck, let the other slide down to test a firm flank and return the favor granted him earlier, seeking and finding something that made him grin against the mouth on his own.

Then Slade was pulling back, face completely shadowed and hair haloed with flaring color, shifting and unworldly. Robin leaned against the rail, mouth open and breathing hard, arms and legs weak things that tremorred with movement. Robin smirked then, eyes lit up behind the mask even if Slade couldn't see, and he shoved his weight upwards, forced limbs back into action as he jumped over the railing and landed smoothly below.

Above him, he could see Slade's torso and face, still glowing with neon light. Robin gave him a wave, held up the black bag containing the Xenothium, and grinned again before turning to dart out of the room.

****

The air of the harbor as compared to that of the club was ice cold against his face and Robin welcomed the change. Salt scent slapped his senses as he ran and stung against the raw places on his face and neck. He pushed the sensation to the back of his mind and kept running, feet barely touching the ground before arching once more into the air. A quick glance at the time showed less than twenty minutes until the deadline and the frantic knowledge of it made him move even faster.

The Observatory loomed above him, pale whitewashed and tall, the telescope covered and roped as always. He skidded on the rocks as the ground rose and began to climb, stumbling until he was finally able to get clear access to the Observatory above. A pull on his jump line, a fire, and moments later Robin soared into the sky, body racing upwards so fast that the wind worked its way into his mask and brought tears to his eyes.

Finally, his feet hit solid ground again. Robin slipped the line away and let his fingers trail once more over the vial of Xenothium, tied in as many knots as he could manage to his belt. He took a deep breath, let half of it out, and entered the Observatory.

Chang was, unsurprisingly, waiting for him at the entrance, arms crossed and scowling.

"You like to push the limits, boy." He sneered, goggles showing red pinpricks of light instead of eyes. Robin stood his ground.

"I made it in time."

"And my customer is already here and waiting for you." Chang shook his head sorrowfully. "Perhaps this was too much for such a child."

Robin was having none of this. He reached forward, snagged Chang's tunic, and dragged the man down to his level. "I got what you wanted and I got it in time. Now where is my money?"

Chang sniffed and pushed Robin's hands away. Robin allowed this, staring balefully upwards. He was gratified to see Chang cringe a moment, before the man attempted to regain what dignity was possible.

"First show me the Xenothium." Chang demanded imperiously. When Robin dutifully patted the black bag on his waist, Chang sighed and scuttled into the Observatory proper. Robin followed, eyes scanning the room warily. Chang was yet another mad scientist and not particularly known for his honorable ways. Usually the man was too cowardly to take action on his own but it wouldn't do to take chances. There didn't seem to be any surprises waiting for him though; the cool metal walls were bare. There was no one there, no sounds made save the soft, muffled call of waves hitting the rocks below and Chang's own clanging steps.

Chang pressed a button on his own suit and nodded at Robin.

"The money has been transferred into your specified accounts but if you do not prove to me that you have obtained the Xenothium-"

Robin cut him off, reached down, and used a slender knife to slit through the ties binding the bag to him, then pulled out and held up the softly glowing vile.

"You mean this?" Chang snatched for it and Robin let him, the vile leaving his fingers even as he reached down to confirm the funds transfer on the mini-computer programmed into his right glove. It showed immediately, and relief slid through him, replacing blood for a pure lightheaded moment before he reclaimed control of himself.

He heard an almost silent scuffle of feet against metal and turned to stare at Chang's customer.

"As promised, sir, the Xenothium!" Chang held up the vile happily but the newcomer didn't look at him. Instead he met Robin's own gaze, one black eye piercing and looking entirely out of place under the florescent lights before dismissing the boy utterly, trailing slow gaze moving away as though Robin was no more important than the too-white tile.

Robin swallowed hard, eyes wide, and suddenly the mark on his neck felt heated and burned in his skin. He had to resist an urge to clap his hand to it. Chang mouthed odious compliments but Robin couldn't hear any of them, drowned out completely by the buzz of shock.

"Indeed," Slade commented evenly and of course it was Slade, who else would it be on this insane night? "Your payment has already been sent."

The need to leave came up hot and heavy and Robin saw no reason to deny it. He had his money. He edged slowly backwards, thankful that he hadn't come all the way into the room proper, and Slade's voice rang out over Chang's ongoing platitudes.

"Oh, Red X? Wait for me outside, would you? There is something that I would like to discuss with you."

Robin stiffened but nodded regardless and was finally able to escape back out to the chilled salt air of the outdoors. The cold was bitter now, and he felt apprehension pooling in his bones, making his feet heavy. He really shouldn't wait, Robin tried to reason with himself. There was no reason to. Who knew what Slade wanted?

He waited anyway, seated one knee up to prop an elbow and ass cold on the rocks overlooking the bay, hair ruffled by an increasing wind. The stars overhead seemed particularly remote and crueler, the night locked in the pure dark that comes shortly before morning.

There was a sound behind him of a booted foot shuffling against stone. Robin felt his muscles tighten even further but did not move as Slade stepped up to stand quite close to his back. He could feel the man's body heat against his own chilled skin.

"You still sound like an elephant." Robin said lowly and he could all but feel Slade's amusement racing up his spine. Robin leaned his head back, took in Slade's form towering above his own.

"You stayed." Slade did not appear surprised by that fact.

Robin shrugged. "It sounded like you had a job."

"In a sense." Slade sounded contemplative. "You see, for some time now, I've been searching for an apprentice..."

He explained and Robin cocked his head, listening. When Slade had completed making his case, Robin quirked an eyebrow.

"So this whole thing tonight, it was a test?"

"One that you passed." Slade's voice, damn him, still sent lightning sparking up through Robin's bones and he had the sensation that Slade knew it. "Congratulations."

Robin scowled. "I haven't actually agreed, you know."

Slade shrugged. "You haven't jumped off the cliff either. I thought it to be an indication of your answer."

Which was true and Robin couldn't deny it. He thought a moment, mind flickering though ideas like fire, all leading back to the same conclusion. Robin was a thief. He was a good one, so much so that stealing the Xenothium hadn't been a challenge. The challenge had been Slade - and Slade wanted him. The man was a riddle, and Robin loved solving riddles.

"You know me too well." Robin said finally, and when Slade offered a hand to help him to his feet, Robin accepted.

"My dear boy," Slade murmured and Robin was certain that he was smirking under the iron mask. For some reason, it didn't rankle. "You have no idea."


-fin


One challenge done! Mwahaha. Even if I'm not too pleased with it... Argh.

Yami, I hope it works for you. Robin still is Robin, but I figured that he wouldn't go by his birthname and he did basically name himself in the comics regardless, so hopefully it still works well for your challenge. ^_^

Snare-chan, I'm about halfway done with your fic so hopefully that will be out by the end of the week.