Author's Note: Hiya, my dear readers! Thank you so much for all the reviews and the insistent reminders. :3 They are loved, every one of them.

I'm so sorry for the delay. As usual health is the biggest issue here. But this chapter had been scheduled – in my mind – for last Friday. But as I was writing, new scenes unfolded in my mind and I had to write those down. Because of it, the work load of this novel has increased by two more chapters. Good news for you, more work for me. XD LOL.

Hopefully, you all will consider the wait well worth it. This chapter was one of those chapters thought of from the beginning. To think we've reached this far is quite amazing. Haha, I was laughing because when I first posted this I didn't think it would be a large story.

Aheh, I think it's been proven otherwise and we still have eight more chapters to go – that is if it doesn't increase yet again. XD

However, the good news is, I know exactly where to go from here. Everything is going to intensify in the plot on both storylines. Secrets will be revealed, true love will be unfolded, and tragedies will tear hearts apart.

On with the story!

Chapter Fourteen

Caressing Miracles

Starfire was puzzled.

She was currently in her room, sitting on the edge of her bed with her elbows leaning on her knees and her face resting in her hands. The air of the outside world felt oppressive, as if a storm was quickly approaching. Hunched over, her thoughts were heavy in their weight upon her mind – yet another storm brewing there. There was only one person in her thoughts at that moment, only one who could bring her such turmoil of the heart.

Robin…

She understood the fact that Robin had denied having a girlfriend – yes, she was aware of Earth terminology on that factor. Thus, she could trust his words on that; her heart felt at peace. She knew she hadn't ever spoken to Robin about how she felt about him. Earth customs were difficult for her sometimes. She had watched many Earth films about things of the heart. She never could understand why earthlings took so long to say their true feelings.

On Tamaran, if someone felt something special for another, they would openly tell that one. Starfire had almost told Robin how she felt when she realized her feelings, but she had held back because of the strange Earth customs. Earthlings didn't respond well to the traditions of her planet. While Robin was generally very patient with her, what if she so greatly offended him – who was of Earth – that he would never speak to her? That was just something she couldn't bear.

But she also could no longer bear the stirrings of her heart. Something strange was going on with Robin, more than ever before. It worried her greatly. Robin was becoming more and more withdrawn. He never spent time with them, nor participated in any of their activities. He would leave in the evening and not return until morning some days. His behavior was becoming stranger and stranger to her.

But there was something more.

She missed him. It was plain and simple: she missed him. She missed his laughter, his smiles, his voice – she missed everything about him. The more she felt the distance, the more her heart burned inside her chest. She had to do something. She couldn't wait any more. Something bad was going to happen, she just could feel it inside her heart.

If Starfire expressed her feelings, would he return them? She knew they were friends, even best friends. There were gentle moments where Robin seemed to open up to her, where he would tell her things of his heart that he never expressed to the others. Such times were rare, but Starfire knew she was his confident. Would everything change if she took the step to tell him how she felt?

What was more painful? Holding back the feelings that she felt for the one she loved, or losing the one she loved as a dear friend if rejection came?

A distant rumble shook the air outside.

Well, the inhabitants of Tamaran were not revered as a courageous people for nothing.

….….…

Lightning flashed across the night sky.

Rain battered against the window, the noise pounding inside Robin's ears. The sound was both comforting and irritating. The consistency of the sounds of rain brought the comfort, but the relentless volume of sound was the irritating part.

He was currently sitting on his bed, his knees drawn up to his chest. He was resting his elbows on his knees and hiding his face in his hands, the texture of his mask itching his skin slightly. His heart was burdened at that moment. It was just one of those days. Perhaps it was the storm that was affecting him, or perhaps he just wasn't feeling well. But whatever it was, everything seemed more difficult to him.

His mind was trying to make sense of things.

Tuesday. He had gone back last night.

Once again, it was so different than what Robin was continually expecting. Every visit to the man continued to change those expectations. And yet again, Robin hadn't bothered to ask the questions that the hero side of him wanted to voice. No, the hidden boy that had long been pushed away – Richard Grayson – had asked more questions about his mother. He drank up the unknown memories, loving every minute that expanded his picture of the woman that had been his mother.

And that evening had been one of the most meaningful to Robin in a very long time, just as the previous one had been.

Slade was so different than Robin had ever imagined. It seemed that the passing of time made one remember the little things – those things that were taken for granted at the time they occurred. Such things built upon each other to create the full image of a person.

So many nuances were remembered that evening. Slade mentioned so many things – so many little, gentle things as if each thing had meant everything in the world to him.

And yet… Robin still resisted – he still resisted the thought of accepting this man. There were times he could see just how much Slade truly had loved his mother. That much was a comforting thought. The man who had sired him had loved his mother with all his heart – even now the love was apparent; the man had never stopped loving her.

But Robin still had a difficult time accepting Slade as his father. It just wasn't fate. Robin was the leader of the Teen Titans. He didn't have time to be the son of Slade, the criminal mastermind. They were enemies, that was all – nothing more, nothing less. The little moments that Robin had experienced with the man would fade away to the dark recesses of his mind once they went back as they once were before.

Robin would treasure the information about his mother, but there was no need to keep up appearances once he got all he could on her.

It wasn't as if he were still drawn to the man.

No, not at all.

He didn't need a father.

Especially now.

But every time he tried to finalize his decision, finalize the fact that he was going to stop these visits soon, his mind became flooded with the tender moments he had shared with the man that was supposed to be his father. His mind replayed every scene with clarity, causing him to smile and even chuckle. Then, his heart would twist, as if he had betrayed everything he had ever known for enjoying such things with the man who was also Slade.

The man that smirked at him with playfulness was the same man that had haunted Robin's dream with his silky, taunting voice. The man that had made him dinner, breakfast, and even hot chocolate had stolen classified military technology. The man that had poured whip cream down his back had battled fierce fights that exchanged painful blows.

The same man that had so tenderly and gently held his face to look for any trace of his wife in her son… was the same man that was the criminal mastermind that threatened everything that Robin had held in importance.

What was he supposed to do?

He still hadn't said anything to the others. The more he thought about the lies that he was still weaving around himself, the more he couldn't even bear the presence of the others. Raven hadn't tried to speak to him on the matter, so Robin was still unsure how to act around her. The fever of his thoughts filled his mind with doubts. He just wasn't sure of anything any more.

In all honesty, he hated himself for his uncertainty. He had been so strong as the leader of the Teen Titans. Was his foundation so fragile that he would crumble from one strike at its base? Was the knowledge of his parentage such the foundation of his very self worth, that when something altered it, he would become crushed by the change?

The more he sat there, the very weight of the world on his thin shoulders, he couldn't help but think it was true. There was no one for him to turn to, there was no one he could seek advice from – he felt so alone in this. He couldn't even imagine seeking help from his mother if she had been alive. He wasn't sure if she knew. If she had known, then why would she keep it from him? Why'd he have to learn about it now?

It wasn't fair at all.

Robin's darkened room illuminated briefly before a crack of thunder burst across the air, making the very walls tremble from the sheer power. Robin shivered.

A knock at his door made him jump when the frightening thunder did not. He sucked in his breath as his head popped up and jerked in the direction of the door.

"Robin?" called a gentle voice. "May I speak with you?"

The boy on the bed sighed, hearing his name spoken so kindly. He rubbed his face with a single hand, pinching the bridge of his nose in the process.

"Sure, Star, come in," said Robin, pulling himself to the edge of the bed.

His door opened and Starfire appeared there. The door slid closed, leaving them in the dim lighting of Robin's room. He wasn't sure what to say to her. He could barely look at her, let alone in the eye. All he could think about were all the lies he had been telling her. He couldn't imagine her knowing about his situation with Slade. Raven was one thing, but Starfire was the one closest to Robin's heart. He just couldn't bear…

"Hello, Robin," said Starfire with a shy smile. "I hope you are well."

"Pretty good, you?"

Awkward much, Robin? he couldn't help much think to himself.

At his question, Starfire's smile seemed to falter slightly, before it faded away. She took a step forward and sat down on the bed next to him. Robin's heart rate went up a few points from her close presence. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He couldn't deal with this right now. This was too much for him on top of everything else.

"Robin, I wished to speak to you on something that worries me," said Starfire, her hands in her lap as she looked down at them.

"O–okay, then."

"I am worried about you, Robin," whispered Starfire. Hearing his name from her lips always gave him a small delight in his chest. "You are always distant now. There is something wrong and I wish you would speak to me about it. I wish to help you and I cannot if you do not tell me what is wrong."

Robin let out the tense breath that had accumulated as Starfire spoke. He found he couldn't sit next to her any more, feeling a wave of defensiveness wash over him. He stood up and walked to the wall, staring at its bare contents.

"Look, Star, I'm all right, okay?" said Robin, running a hand through his hair ungelled hair. "It's nothing you have to worry about."

There was a soft exhale, as if Starfire were frustrated.

"You do not see it," cried Starfire. "You cannot see what the rest of us see."

Robin turned around.

"Star—"

Starfire bolted to her feet, causing him to break off; those beautiful eyes were glistening at him.

"You are never around any more to partake of the enjoyments with us, your friends. You never talk to any of us. You are always in your room doing the brooding or the deep thinking. You leave the tower in the evenings and do not come back until the morning."

"Starfire—"

"I know that Raven has told me to give you—" She lifted her hands in the air and motioned with her fingers, making air quotes. "—'the space', but the more I give you—" She did it again. "—'the space', the more you drift away from me. I am so worried that you will drift too far and–and I miss you!"

Robin suddenly felt very uncomfortable as Starfire dropped her face into her hands, her shoulders beginning to shake. He took a step forward, his hand reaching out to her. But before he could reach her, the shaking stopped. Her head popped upward, surprising him into taking a step back.

"Robin, I cannot understand why you will not confide in me," said Starfire, taking a step forward. Robin couldn't think – he only took another step backwards, trying to keep the same distance away from her. "I have tried to understand, yet I cannot without you explaining things to me. Please."

"It's not your fault, Starfire," said Robin, his voice catching in his throat. He was unsettled by the pleading, yet powerful look in her eyes. She glanced away briefly.

"Perhaps earth customs are just too difficult for me to understand."

Robin let out the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, a light chuckle releasing through the breath.

"It's not earth customs." There was another chuckle. "It's just me." Robin let out a sigh. "I'm not really… good with expressing my feelings."

Starfire looked back at him. Her expression fell slightly, pain entering there, but there was a gentle touch of humor lifting her lips.

"Perhaps, then, do earth boys come with some sort of manual?"

The tension seemed to temporarily release from Robin's chest.

"Haha, no, I'm sorry. Wish there was."

Starfire let out a forlorn sigh.

"Things are so much easier on Tamaran," said Starfire, her hand clutching the side of her arm to cross over her stomach. "On my home planet, my people speak what they feel. If feelings were kept inside, only to fester, then our powers would not work as well." She looked back at him, the light in her eyes intensifying. "I have held back because it was expected of me. Earthlings keep their feelings and emotions bottled inside much of the time."

Then, an all powerful light entered her eyes.

"But I do not plan to hold back any more. I no longer think it is wise."

Robin wasn't sure what that meant. Suddenly, something inside him lifted a hundred red flags, but he found he couldn't respond to her. With the fire glowing even more in determination within those hauntingly beautiful eyes, she clasped her hands together and took another step closer. Robin tried to keep the same distance; however, Starfire pressed closer towards him. He found himself against the wall, his hands pressed against the cold surface. He swallowed once, unable to understand what was happening. She was too close to him. He could readily see the rich tan color of her skin and the monochromatic green eyes that were so longingly looking at him.

"Robin, I only wish to help you. I care deeply for you."

He found that he couldn't breathe any more.

He was paralyzed.

Frozen before her beauty – that what it was. She was so beautiful. Her voice was always so calming, so gentle over him. What was she doing? Why was she getting so close? If she would just back up a bit, he could think a little more clearly.

"I thought we were friends, Robin," whispered Starfire.

She was getting even closer. He could smell the soft, foreign scent of her perfume gently wafting over him; intoxicating his very senses.

"We are, Star," croaked Robin in a whisper, barely managing his voice to come out at all. His heart was pounding against his chest, thudding at shockingly intense speed – the only thing signifying that he wasn't just another solid brick against the wall.

"And yet, you will not speak to me on the things which trouble your heart. You will not tell me your feelings or with what you are struggling."

Robin's breathe hitched.

"I–I can't… Star."

Those beautiful eyes closed, as if in pain. Her lips trembled for a moment. She looked torn inside, as if she were battling against some decision inside her heart. Robin could only watch, completely transfixed by her. Then, those deep, monochromatic emerald green eyes opened, a light of strength and resolve filling them.

"Then, I shall tell you the thing which troubles my heart," said Starfire, her hand rising to press against his chest. She was a mere inch away. He could count her eyelashes one by one if his brain weren't so fogged at that moment. A gentle whisper then floated into his ears, stilling the very air around them.

"These are my feelings for you."

Robin couldn't stop it, even if he had wanted to in the first place. Starfire completed the distance between them and their lips overlapped.

It was the sweetest thing Robin had ever experienced – he couldn't help but accept it. The softness of her lips were temporarily melting all known thoughts in his mind. He felt Starfire's arms slowly begin to wrap around his waist; and somehow, his were responding in kind. The kiss slowly deepened in its softness; thoroughly overwhelming all of Robin's senses.

The cautious, tentative nature in their innocence was greatly apparent. Robin's arms trailed downwards along Starfire's upper back until he reached the small area right above her hips. He pressed his hands there, pulling her nearer to him; the wish of wanting her as close as possible to him driving his movements and instincts.

The moment itself, while short in the span of time, seemed like an eternity; stretching forth beyond the comprehension of his mind. This was his first time ever doing something like this and this was his first time feeling something like this. The fact that this was Starfire, the girl he loved with the everything of his soul, was the same one that he was currently holding in his arms and who he was currently kissing with a passion and zeal he didn't even know he had possessed.

It was pure bliss – bliss beyond anything Robin had ever experienced.

But then…

It seemed as if such things didn't always last long for Robin.

All of Robin's feelings of his low self worth came crashing down on him at that very moment. He nearly collapsed beneath its power. All his thoughts were filled with what had been happening the past few days, even what he'd been thinking the past few hours. Then, all the lies he had spun were tangling his heart. He was still lying to her; he was still lying to his whole team; he was the son of Slade.

Just what would Starfire think of him when she learned that? Would she dislike him; no longer trust him? Would she be angry with him; would she hate him?

Would she be disgusted that she had kissed the son of a criminal; the son of Slade?

At that horrible thought, Robin pulled back, breaking the kiss. His arms lifted and placed themselves onto her shoulders; forcing her back. He could hear her breaths, soft and quick; his own matching hers – he could feel her warmth brushing against his bangs in gentle pants. Even though the rain outside pounded his window in thunderous drones, her breathing and his own seemed to roar deafeningly in his ears, reminding him over and over of exactly what they had just done.

"Robin?"

His head was ducked; his hands trembling at her shoulders. The emotions poured from his heart in the form of tears, which were flowing freely from his eyes to soak into the fabric of his mask.

He couldn't; he just couldn't. He was too horrible, too awful. He'd corrupt Starfire – there was no doubt in his mind about that. She was so beautiful, so pure and he was just the opposite. His soul was tainted with his lies. His soul was tainted by the things he had done. His soul was tainted by being the son of Slade. While Slade was keeping his word, who knew when the deal would change. At any moment, it could all change and Slade would go back to his old ways. Especially when Robin himself broke the deal.

And then, they'd be right back where they started – Hero and Villain; Father and Son.

"Robin, what is the matter?" asked Starfire in a soft whisper; her hand coming to touch his cheek. His skin burned beneath her hand.

"I… can't…" whispered Robin, ever so softly.

"What…?"

"I can't!" cried Robin suddenly, breaking away from Starfire completely and bolting away.

"Robin!"

But he didn't look back. He nearly rammed into his door as he waited the brief second for it to open. He ran through the hallways, hearing Starfire crying after him once more.

But he couldn't answer her.

Somehow, his legs wouldn't stop. Instead of using the elevator, he ran down the stairs. He went down numerous levels without stopping, his heart pounding out of his chest; stitch growing there. He reached the main hallway, the line of red chairs a blur as he rushed by.

He burst into the night; the rain beating into him as he ran out of the shelter of the Tower. Nothing obstructed his flight – getting off the island the Tower resided was far too easy for one who's mind was clouded. When he reached the mainland, he continued to run through the rain, never looking back as the freezing rain soaked into his clothing and deep into his skin.

There was no safe haven for him anymore. Batman wasn't safe. The Titans weren't safe. He wasn't safe. He couldn't run away from himself. He couldn't run away from his sins; his lies; his truths. Why was there no safe haven for him? Why?

Because it was all his fault – he destroyed those havens himself.

Without even realizing it, he was running towards the last place of sanity left – the last place he would've accounted to sanity or haven. The path to his sanctuary was automatic; his feet slapping against the pavement of the sidewalk, water splashing with every footstep. He never looked up as he ran, his head ducked to the ground.

Robin didn't think as he reached the haunt, punching his name in the keypad at the side. He didn't even wait for the door to slide open all the way before he darted in, darting up the stairs two by two. He didn't notice the silence of the haunt – no clinking of the gears.

Robin burst into the living room, slamming the door behind himself. He collapsed onto the couch; curling a single leg to his chest and burying his head into it. He shivered as the freezing rain chilled his skin in the air conditioned room. He ripped his mask off and tossed it across the room in silent anger. He roughly wiped the moisture from his face; silent tears mixed with the rain on his face.

He buried his face into his knee once again, shivering terribly as tears slipped into the fabric of his soaking wet pants.

He was horrible for leaving Starfire behind. What was she thinking right now? Was she confused? Was she hurt?

Had Robin wounded her beyond recovery for denying her the desire of her heart, for denying her sacred feelings – just for him to speak the simple truth?

But Robin couldn't. Everything would be far worse then. He couldn't tell them the truth. It was too confusing, too weird, too horrible, too everything. Robin couldn't explain to them his conflicting feelings. Worse of all, he couldn't explain anything to her. He just couldn't tell them that he was confused; that there were times where he was furious with the man and other times were drawn to him.

He couldn't tell them that there were those fleeting moments he wished for the impossible – and yet, denied it with every fiber of his being.

They could never understand. While Robin didn't know much about each of their past lives and families, Robin felt as if they couldn't understand what he was feeling at that moment. To watch his parents die before his eyes, to watch them fall to their deaths was the most horrible thing to ever cross his vision. To live with a man that was hardened, who was a loner, who couldn't truly offer the comfort an eight year old child needed after such a traumatic experience was the very thing that had happened to Robin.

But Robin was strong; he dealt with it.

He didn't need comfort anymore; he didn't need anyone to care about him anymore. He just needed to do his job – he just needed to protect these people.

But how could he, when he couldn't even protect himself?

There was a terrible rumble through the night; shaking the very core of the flooring. A flash of light burst across the single window; a second later, a tremendous crash of thunder shook the entire room, causing Robin to flinch in shock from the raw power that terrorized the air.

The electricity went out.

Left in the darkness, shivering terribly, Robin curled his arms around his leg even more.

"Ah… Tsk."

There was a soft shuffle in the darkness and then the sound of impact as something connected hard against it. Robin tightened his hold on his leg when he heard Slade's voice. There was another click of the tongue and a low growl. Then, the man swore lightly. Robin's eyes widened, a little surprised.

"Where's that switch…?" muttered Slade; sounding completely frustrated. Robin tensed. He didn't want to see Slade at that moment. He didn't want to explain what had happened. He didn't want to explain why he was even here. He didn't want anyone to know what he was feeling – he could barely make any sense of it himself. How the heck was anyone else supposed to understand it?

There was a low growl from the man in the darkness and another low curse as there was the sound of glass shattering against the floor.

"Blast it," growled Slade. Robin heard the crunching of glass beneath Slade's boots. There was a long sigh. "Of all the times…"

It was only a matter of time before Slade noticed that Robin was there, no matter how much he was trying to blend into the couch at that moment. A part of his heart lifted at the sound of Slade's voice, as if were hoping that the man would offer some sort of help or advice. But Robin's mind pushed it away. He curled into himself.

A sudden flash of lightning blasted outside, illuminating the room briefly; a moment later the deafening sound of thunder shook the entire room. Robin sucked in his breath, unable to stop himself from flinching violently from the horrible noise.

"Robin?"

The owner of the name stiffened. He closed his eyes. He couldn't stop shivering; his entire body trembling completely. Oh, why was he here anyways? Didn't he want to be alone? He didn't want anyone to bother with him at that moment. He wasn't worth it. Why would Slade even care about him? He was horrible. He was lying to his friends left and right, trying to hide things from their views. Slade was a criminal – surely he had better things to do than to bother with Robin.

"What are you doing here?" asked Slade, kneeling down in front of him. Robin couldn't answer. He didn't know the answer. He didn't know why his legs brought him here, of all places. He was shivering too much. His soaked shirt clung to his body; the icy feel of the cloth chilling him to his very core.

Warm hands touched his upper arms. There was a sharp intake of breath.

"You're frozen to the bone," said Slade, sounding concerned. Those hands started to slide up and down him arms in the attempt to warm him up. Robin tried to shrug them off.

"I'm fine."

"Cute. Keep saying that while you shiver to death."

"I'm fine."

His biggest lie of all.

He wasn't fine. He was not fine. There was nothing fine about him. He didn't know what to do anymore. He was overwhelmed by the fact that he felt young; overpoweringly young. At that very moment, what he wouldn't give for two minutes in his mother's arms. Two minutes of the comfort of those warm arms that would tell him everything would be all right; that he would be all right.

But it was just a cruel dream; a cruel wish.

There was no comfort for him. If he wanted to remain sane, if he wanted to remain strong, if he wanted to remain alive, he had to put away such weak wishes. He didn't need comfort. He didn't need anything.

He didn't need anyone.

Robin felt himself being pulled to his feet. He didn't bother trying to stop the man – too weak to bother fighting him. He didn't care what the man was going to do. He was shivering. He was freezing. But he was in such turmoil that he couldn't think anymore.

He didn't even realize that Slade had lifted him into his arms; one supporting his back and the other supporting his legs. Robin rested his head against the man's chest; not caring about anything and letting the tears slowly slip down his cheeks. There was a brief moment of peace that slid over Robin as he was held in the man's powerful arms; a comfort of the like he hadn't felt in years. Robin was carried down the hallway into the bathroom. He felt himself being sat down to sit onto the closed seat of the toilet.

"Take off your shirt," instructed Slade.

But Robin didn't bother to obey. He was too overcome; too stilled. He didn't care about anything at that moment – nevermore. He just wanted to sit on that couch and shiver to death. That sounded best at that moment. There was a low sigh and then Robin felt the man stand in front of him. Fingers gently glanced at his waist as he felt his shirt to start being pulled up.

"Lift up your arms," said Slade.

Robin did so. A moment later, the soaked shirt was removed from Robin's body. He looked to the side, apathetic to the fact that he was shirtless with this man. He only shivered; the air cold around him. Then, something so soft and so fluffy was plopped on top of his head. Robin couldn't help but breathe in the cozy fragrance of the towel's detergent. The weight of hands fell upon his head. Robin swayed side to side as Slade began the task of drying him off.

Slade's hands were rough and precise in their job, and yet they were so gentle and soft as they worked to absorb the water from his hair. Soon, the towel trailed downwards over his shoulders and upper chest. The exceptionally soft towel flopped around in his view; his hair getting ruffled and tussled through the drying process. At times, Robin could catch a glimpse of the man that was drying him. There was a determined look in that singular crystal blue eye.

A strange sensation began to fill Robin's stomach; flowing upwards to his chest where his heart resided. It reminded him all too much of his younger days when his mother would dry him off after a bath or after getting caught out in the rain.

It was the feeling of being taken care of; of being cared for; of being a child; of being a son.

The warmth that flooded through Robin's heart was a little too much for him to handle on top of all the tumultuous feelings he was currently experiencing. A burning wave hit his eyes, sending a wave of tears to slip down his face; only to be soaked into the towel that was determined to absorb any moisture from his body.

How could this be happening? He could feel it; at that very second, he was starting to accept the fact that this man was his father; starting to actually like that this man was alive. But he couldn't tell anyone. He couldn't tell the rest of his friends. He was supposed to be their unfailing, infallible leader. He couldn't depend on someone else. He needed to be strong and unbending. He wasn't supposed to need adults.

He wasn't supposed to need a father.

And yet, there was a deep feeling of wanting, wishing, needing a steadfast father at his side. Someone to tell him he was doing the right things, to tell him when he wasn't; to help him, guide him along the hard path that was life; to be a comfort, to be a rock and foundation in his sanity; to merely be there when he needed a little extra comfort with a hug.

But he wasn't supposed to need those things. Robin was supposed to be strong without those things. Wasn't that what it meant to be an adult? That's how Batman was. He never needed anyone. Batman did just fine without needing others. He was powerful; he was intelligent; he was unbeatable. He wasn't weak like Robin.

He also wasn't the son of Slade.

But somehow, that thought wasn't so burdensome to Robin at that moment. A lift of his heart was occurring as those rough, yet gentle hands ruffled his hair dry. The thought of telling his friends that fact was burdensome, but the truth was he no longer truly hated it. The man was honestly trying to make an effort. There was no way this was the criminal that Robin had fought so hard. There was something so amazingly different about this man. True, there were times when they clashed, but that was to be expected. Now, there was something that was building inside Robin's heart and it was beginning to take over it with every particle of his soul.

Acceptance.

He was definitely beginning to accept it; to acknowledge it. All his thoughts of the day, all his waverings, they all slipped away. If Slade the Villain disappeared and this man in front of him, who was still drying him off vigorously, appeared in that villain's place, Robin couldn't deny the fact of his parentage – he'd accept Slade as his father. There was no more doubt, just acceptance to the fact of his weakness – he needed help and he had no one else to turn now.

He needed a father.

He needed Slade.

There was a ripple effect that went through Robin at that. The first reaction was another wave of tears overflowed to slide down his cheeks. He couldn't bite back the small sob that broke his lips. He swallowed hard and bit down on his bottom lip, trying to stop it. The drying stopped suddenly. Robin's teeth trembled as he ducked his head, not wanting to look up at the man, who was, no doubt, observing him with that unbending eye. His mouth slipped closed, his lips pulling inward.

"What's the matter?" asked Slade, gentle concern slipping through his tone. "Am I hurting you?"

Robin quickly shook his head.

"Then, what is it?"

There was another vigorous shake of his head.

There was no way Robin was going to say anything. There was no way he was going to admit this weakness out loud, give life and energy to it by announcing it to the universe. There was no way he was going to admit that he needed a father; that he needed this man in front of him. He hadn't need anyone before. Why did he need someone now?

Or had he just been suffering in secret all this time? Or had he just been lying to himself all this time? Had he been burying the truth all this time, way before he began this business with Slade?

Was this his greatest lie?

A hand touched his chin and slowly lifted his head. Robin blinked rapidly, sending more tears down his cheeks. He was forced to look up into Slade's perplexed eye. Then, a flash of shock passed over the light within that eye. But it was quickly replaced with his usual impassive stance, not before showing a hint of understanding.

Robin truly wished that he wasn't such an easy read.

Slade didn't say anything as he continued to dry Robin off, moving down to his lower torso; kneeling down to do so. Robin closed his eyes, trying to hold back the sobs. He blamed his tears of his blood sugar issue, wishing for something to stop them. But somehow, these tears didn't stem from his physical weakness; they stemmed from the weakness in his heart.

"Why do you care?" whispered Robin finally.

Why? Why do you suddenly care so much? It's too obvious that you do. So, why? What's so great about me? Is it really because I'm Mama's son? Is that it? Or is it more? It is because I was Batman's protégé? What could possibly make you want to make such an effort here?

Why?

The towel stopped suddenly; Slade looking up from his kneeling. He straightened, standing up, to look down at Robin, who lifted his head to look up at the man. He searched the man, looking for answers, even praying for them. Then, Slade's chest lifted into a deep, somber sigh. He turned and grabbed another towel. He lifted it and wrapped it around Robin's shoulders. The warmth was instant as it flooded through Robin's skin. There was a another moment as Slade considered him.

"You are a miracle," said Slade in a low voice. Robin's eyes widened, his heart catching inside his chest as the wind stopped in his throat.

What…?

"Mary and I… We were married for four years before I was called away," continued Slade, his voice low and deep, as if the words wounded him as he spoke. "Since day one of our marriage, we knew we wanted children, but… it just wasn't to be. Your mother… Mary had three miscarriages during those four years."

Robin sucked in his breath.

"At the end of the third miscarriage, we were told that Mary could never have children," said Slade, his eye darkening. "Mary was… devastated. I… was the same. Both of us didn't have siblings; both of us were estranged from our families – children were something we desperately wanted."

Slade leaned back against the wall, covering his face with his hands.

"Having a family was something we dreamed of," whispered Slade. "But then, I was called away. I had to leave her behind and all alone. Never had I imagined the possibility that she'd have my child while I was gone. When I came back and I saw you with her and him… I thought she hadn't been able to have children because of me."

There was a silent moment. Only the rumbling thunder broke the silence.

"I thought it was my fault we couldn't be truly happy," whispered Slade, his voice low and deep with his pain. "I thought…"

Slade trailed off, shaking his head. Then, he looked up at Robin, strength flashing through his crystal blue eye through the shadows of the bathroom.

"You are a miracle. Mary wasn't supposed to be able to have children. There's no doubt in my mind: you are a miracle."

'You are a miracle.'

Robin stared at the man in complete shock. He had never heard that before and to hear for the first time from Slade of all people was thoroughly shocking. He was overwhelmed; tears slipped down his cheeks even more. There was a little glow in his chest, telling him that his heart was accepting the high compliment. But his brain was burdened by all the self destructive words that he fed his mind. He couldn't believe that he was miracle. Perhaps he was a curse instead.

But the way the man was looking at him with such a serious expression and with such sincerity, Robin couldn't help but believe him; couldn't help but trust those words.

….….…

Next Time: Chapter Fifteen: The Gypsy and the Lieutenant – Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Gypsy and a handsome Lieutenant; the story of Mary and Slade begins to unfold. Young love blossoms throughout the unit and no amount of teasing, nor protesting will stop it now.

Author's Notes: As I was writing this, I realized I hadn't written romance in over a year – perhaps even longer. Shockingly, I used to be a writer who solely wrote some kind of romance. Well, basically, the guy always got the girl or vise versa in every one of my original stories. Then, I got bit by that Hurt/Comfort Father/Son bug that is so delightfully prevalent in the HP fandom of Harry and Snape. Haha. Forgotten Bonds was literally my first story where romance just wasn't in the outline.

So, I must say, this was really fun. And it'll just get even more fun with Slade and Mary. :3 Since the tale of how the two of them met and fell in love is basically the main part of the story. ^^

So, like I said earlier, everything is going to escalate now. Both fun and sad times lie ahead of us – both the future, no matter what it hold, will always have hope.

Thanks for reading! See ya next time! Reviews = love and ideas! ^.^