What?

Chapter Eighteen

I woke up after only about two hours of sleep, which while for a normal person would be torture probably, I felt refreshed and ready for the day. Instead of getting in my normal uniform, I took out an old martial arts uniform and went to the training room. Before though, I checked my security system. Smiling when I found what I wanted, I left.

Unlike the previous few days, I felt in control of myself and took out the robots that simulations shot at me with ease. I did that for about two and a half hours before Wintergreen came in with a tray of pre-breakfast food. I took a small towel, wiped my face with it and went over to the table where Wintergreen was pulling off a cover to reveal a shake and a couple slices of toast.

As I gulped down half the shake, Wintergreen began conversation, "I see you're proving a real threat to those robots again."

I stopped mid-gulp, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You've got strategy back," Will responded.

I shrugged, "I've had off times before, nothing unusual."

"True," Wintergreen paused as I ate a slice of toast. I could tell he was waiting patiently for an answer. Oh, he'd get one.

"You're wondering about Robin in my room last night, aren't you?" I asked him and he nodded.

"A little bird collapsed on my door step. I let him come in," I saw Wintergreen raise an eye at me and continued, "I took him back to his room later."

"I thought you said that his room locks up, Slade, from the inside," Wintergreen stated.

"I wouldn't expect for you to be so surprised that I would find him outside of his room, Will," I put simply and gulped down the last of my shake, "When you unlocked the door in the first place."

Will's eyes widened slightly, but went back down after a milla-second, "You checked this morning, didn't you?"

"Why'd you unlock it?" I inserted.

Will sighed, "Locking the boy up doesn't do you much good, Slade."

"He's locked up in this place, Wintergreen, and he was going to go to sleep. What was the point?" I asked back.

"I guessed that he wasn't sleeping well, Slade. Even when just resting, he'd toss around a lot. And... I sensed some good would come out of it."

It was my turn to raise a brow, "Some good would come out of it?"

"Well, it did. Robin slept soundly and you seem to have your fire back. Those robot pieces on the floor are proof of that."

I looked at the gym and started to chuckle, "Touché, Will, touché."

I headed back for the gym, "What will you be doing today, sir?"

"Have Robin ready for martial arts, one-on-one training. I'll be out in about thirty after one more simulation and a shower," I said starting up the program.

Wintergreen left, a small smirk on his face.

Striking down the last of the robots, I shook my head. Looking at the pile of debris, I laughed. Will was right, I did have my fire back and I liked it. A lot. I guess no one really likes feeling unable to control a situation where they should be able to control it. And boy, did I like feeling in control again.

I got ready for the training day like normal. When Robin entered the room, I could tell by his stride, that he was also ready for a day's worth of training. There was almost a small skip in his step. I smiled. I guess Will was right. Robin and I both needed last night. I let Wintergreen leave before I started a conversation with my apprentice.