Title: Masquerade
Author: Katarik
Fandom: Animated Teen Titans
Rating: R
Pairing: Slade/Robin

Summary: Slade makes Robin blush.
Disclaimers: DC Comics owns the original characters.

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So Dharma_Chan was able to get on Y!M, and I had *planned* to spam her with fic, but I saw her utterly adorable icon. And then we ended up cowriting fic.

Sisterjoanjulian: Also, I love your icon. So much.

Sisterjoanjulian: Awww, lookit his *blush*!

Dharma-chan: ^^

Dharma-chan: It's so fun to tease the boy

Dharma-chan: *nod*

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"Shhh," Slade murmurs, amused at the wide-eyed look his boy gives.

Maskless. Such a pretty boy he is. Slade almost smiles behind his own mask. "You talk too much." Covers the boy's soft mouth with his palm when Robin's eyes flash.

And it's back to the pure shock in his face. This time Slade almost laughs.

Robin has such a great deal to learn.

Under his hand, under the kevlar, Slade can feel his little bird's lips tremble. It is a pleasant sensation. The boy's face is almost as red as his tunic.

Slade almost feels compelled to trace the contours of his pretty mouth.

And why not? Robin is too shocked to react anywhere near quickly enough to damage him, and the boy's allies are distracted.

He doesn't expect the shudder that comes when he strokes one finger over the arch of Robin's upper lip. Nor the slight parting of them when he reaches the lower one.

But he sees no reason not to take advantage of it. Robin's quiet moan makes his breath catch in his lungs. The boy flinches almost instantly once it's out. He hadn't intended to make that noise, Slade realizes, and Robin losing control only makes this *better*.

Slowly, ah, so slowly, Slade slips the tip of his index finger past his bird's lips. He absently regrets that he has his gloves on; he would have liked to know how this feels on his bare hands.

Robin's mouth shudders open wider, and he touches the point of his tongue hesitantly to Slade's finger. Slade takes the chance to slip his middle finger in now, meeting Robin's tongue without uncertainty; he feels his breathing quickening, along with his little bird's.

Robin's eyes are blue. Wide and afraid and shocked and slowly beginning to light with hunger. Slade pets his tongue and watches the boy shiver hard.

But, alas, the sounds of the other Titans battling are coming closer. The androids were never designed to handle themselves with Slade distracted. Slips his fingers out -- he almost loses control enough to moan when Robin follows his hand -- and strokes Robin's bare cheek. "We'll finish this game some other time, Robin. Do be careful. I'd hate for you to make a mistake."

His bird, if such is possible, turns even redder, and only manages to stutter his name questioningly once before his companions arrive.

Slade tilts his head when they yell his name and watches Robin wince. Poor child. He so rarely thinks about the consequences of his actions. Shakes his head and throws a smokescreen to distract the Titans. Hands Robin a black domino mask. Slade occasionally gives in to sentiment, and when he knows he will encounter Robin he tends to carry this particular domino.

The boy doesn't realize it's his old apprentice mask until after it's on, and by then the smoke is beginning to dissipate. He can either have his precious friends know who he is, or he can wear the mask Slade had made for him.

From a distance, hidden from view of the teens and leaning against a tree, Slade watches Robin trace his mask briefly before facing his friends, announcing that they should return to the Tower since there's not much more they can do now.

Slade smirks behind his mask when he sees his bird's teammates staring. They had obviously noticed the mask.

Robin hisses at them. "I needed a mask and this one was there. Calm down."

"So you let him see you, but you won't let *us*?" The cyborg's voice is curt.

Robin bites his lip. "I hadn't intended him to. The mask was torn and then he was there."

Which is true. Edited, but true.

"Not much of a difference," he mutters, "He still saw you, and we're your friends."

Robin draws himself up, letting the cape fall around him until he manages to look almost as intimidating as his Batman. "Yes. You are."

"And? Just that?" The other ones had refrained from participating, but Slade can see the changeling’s and the alien princess’ faces echoing the hurt and betrayed feeling the cyborg was vocalizing. The demon's daughter face was blank, as per usual.

Robin sighs. "And my name -- or my face -- isn't my secret to share. We've been through this. I hadn't intended Slade to see my face, and I'll need to deal with that. But not being able to tell you who I am doesn't mean I don't value you as friends and teammates." His bird pauses, seeming unsure, and adds in a whisper -- almost like an afterthought, as if he hadn't thought about it, "He knows my face... he could easily take advantage of it, now..."

So true, Slade thinks. But it wouldn't be as fun using that advantage. Besides, if he knows Robin's face he can find the boy's name easily enough. There aren't that many blue-eyed black-haired acrobats in Gotham, and Slade knows that's where he's from. Slade already has a few ideas. And if he doesn't *use* those... Robin will owe him a favor.

Possibly so will Batman, but Robin is far more entertaining.

The Titans glance at each other. The genuine fear in Robin's voice appears to have affected them. "Hey, man," the cyborg starts, but trails off once he realizes that there is nothing he can say that will make much difference. They know the possibility -- probability -- of manipulation is there, and Slade knows they just realized the power that he now has over their leader.

If Robin had been willing to turn into a criminal, to serve a man he professes to hate, to save them... what would he do to keep Batman's secret safe, to keep his mentor and almost only family safe?

Robin will *definitely* owe him a favor.

Trigon's daughter raises her hood, hiding her face. "I can remove memories. I can alter Slade's recall of this situation so that he no longer remembers what you look like, Robin, if you ask. But that would be unethical."

Robin stares at her, and Slade feels his curiosity like an itch. What will his pretty bird do?

He’s beginning to make contingency plans, just in case, when he sees Robin shake his head. "You taught me that I couldn't do something wrong to stop something else that was bad from happening," he starts. "I can't ask you to do something you know is unethical. Even if he is a criminal," Robin continues, "it wouldn't be fair. No one deserves to have his mind played with."

How pointed. Does Robin know Slade is listening?

The girl lowers her hood. Smiles. "Good answer."

His bird smiles, faintly, back. "Let's go home, there's no need to be around here still," he looks at his companions and the smile turns a little bitter. "I can brood there as easily as I can here."

The alien floats over and touches his cheek -- in *exactly* the same place Slade had.

It is too difficult to succeed in holding back the snarl. Robin is *his*. Slade is almost pleased to see his boy flinch a little from her touch.

She tries to smile reassuringly, but it fails to make the shadows on his little bird's pretty face recede.

"Sorry, Star," Robin mutters, trying to smile back at her. "Just trying to plan."

"Everything will be fine," she says.

But Slade knows the words mean nothing to Robin; they are enough alike for his little bird to know he'll have to stay on guard from now on. Slade already knows that Robin is focusing on 'We'll finish this game some other time' and beginning to panic. The boy is predictable.

He sees him shake his head to clear his thoughts, and say: "Let's get out of here, okay?" The now-somber mood is enough to make them easily agree, and they slowly exit the place. Robin stays behind and surveys the area slowly. Looking for him, perhaps?

He is about to turn around to leave but pauses, and Slade feels his pulse quicken when he sees his bird touch his lips, hesitant, tracing them slowly.

Slade shifts, letting himself be seen.

He immediately feels the weight of Robin's stare on him, but now he can perfectly picture the blue eyes that he hadn't known before, behind his apprentice mask.

But Slade stays where he is, lurking, and after a few moments Robin's mouth trembles and he turns away. "Games..." Slade hears him say, and the bitterness in his bird's voice is palpable.

Such a child. Robin hasn't learned yet that waiting can be a pleasure all its own. When Slade has time, he will be very certain to teach the boy patience.

-- Finis

Pee Ess. Yes, there will be a more porny sequel. *sunny smile* Eventually.

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