A/N: The time frame that I had in mind while first writing this was about a month or two after everything goes back to normal on the heels of the big showdown with Raven's Father, but I've later decided that just after the end of the entire series fits better.

For some reason when I first posted this here the document sort-of died. Sorry about that.


Price of Freedom

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson.

CH1: Surprising

This is not how I figured my evening would go, but honestly, I'm really not all that surprised. At this point I'm convinced the world is out to kill me or at the very least make my life hell. My broken bones seem to agree with me, but I suppose things could be worse.

I am still alive after all.

"Next time... when I... tell you... not... to jump... I expect... you to... listen... to me." I say haltingly and in no small amount of pain through my labored breathing. Hopefully, the breaks are clean and nothing is… out of order.

"Why would I ever listen to a criminal like you?"

"When... said criminal... tells you.. not to... jump... on a... unstable... roof." I try to make my tone sound harsh but it comes out more like a wheezing old man, one that used to be one hell of a chain smoker in his youth.

Robin's starting to look rather concerned beneath his stern I-am-a-hero face before it's wiped off and replaced by anger when Deathstroke and all his armored glory melts out of the shadows.

Sometimes I swear he's a vampire.

I turn my body towards him automatically, and I would have immediately cursed my reflexes if I could focus on anything other than pain as my world narrows down to a flash of white-hot agony, before abruptly blacking out then slowly lightening to a blurry dimness.

Sounds of a struggle meet my ears before I'm able to focus on what I'm seeing beyond blobs of colors just in time to see Deathstroke knock Robin out with a knife-hand to the back of the neck.

Interesting, but not surprising. Everyone and their cousin twice removed knows about Deathstroke and Robin and the weird courtship dance they've got going on.

It's hilarious to watch from a distance.

Keyword distance.

Normally, depending on the client and the contract parameters and my mood, I'll go out to steal something and may or may not trip the alarms to mess with the Teen Titans for entertainment.

This time was supposed to be an easy and quick job without any shenanigans. All I had to do was get in, snatch a computer chip, get out, drop off the computer chip and get home so I could play with my new 'baby' that I ordered last week.

Too bad Deathstroke chose tonight to say hello after being MIA for a few months.

Too bad I got caught in the crossfire.

Everything was going so smoothly too, I was just making my way out of the building when Deathstroke, or who the Teen Titans and the general public know as 'Slade', ran around a corner at the same time I did. The only reason we didn't collide was that we both dodged out of the way at the last second. Then we just sort of stared at each other which honestly felt a bit awkward, but that was probably just me considering Deathstroke was starting to give off the air of someone studying an interesting bug.

The fact that I seemed to have surprised him for a good second or two made me feel a bit smug though.

Of course, the Titans chose that moment to come barreling around the corner from down the hall in the direction Deathstroke came from. At first, my presence caught them off guard so they froze for a minute with bewildered looks on their faces and various exclamations of confusion, until Robin pulled himself together and called out, "Titans, go!"

He really should come up with something new or better yet, disregard the battle cry all together. It's not even useful to me for pinpointing their direction of attack, I typically already know.

And not just because Cyborg glows in the dark like a nightlight.

Speaking of Cyborg...

Simultaneously Deathstroke and I ducked the sonic cannon fired at as, rolled, and retaliated with our own weapons. Which coincidently, were both exploding types.

Talk about creepy synchronization.

The attack was effective though as the teens were forced into taking shelter behind Raven's shield lest they be reduced to blood splatters and fleshy chunks.

I took that moment to try and sneak away noticing Deathstroke do the same thing.

...In the same direction...

Well if anything I suppose this is a good indicator I've been doing things correctly...

But unfortunately no matter how amazing it is to be in the presence of a legend like Deathstroke, I'm also terrified of the guy-with good reason-so I mentally reviewed what I knew of the building's layout and said, "Well I'd love to stay and chat but I have a prior arrangement to see to." Then promptly turned down the next hallway.

Deathstroke followed.

I glance nervously at him out of the corner of my eye, "Are we still being weirdly similar or are you just screwing with me?"

"Similar." The bastard sounds amused.

It's also ridiculous how sinful he can make such an innocent word sound.

Any reply I may have had gets cut off as we dodge a green energy bolt flying at us from behind. "Kids never give up easily do they?" I fling my arm back and let loose a binding 'x' at the girl followed up by a slime one. She dodges the first but is distracted by it enough to be hit by the second.

She goes down with a splat and a girlish squeal.

Deathstroke and I turn down the next hallway just in time to dodge the projectiles sent at us from Robin. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last I checked you were also a kid." Snorting, I dryly retort, "To you maybe."

Since when did my mouth decide to become suicidal without my consent?

I quickly follow up with, "As one of the world's best assassins almost everyone is a kid to you experience-wise." Even with the mask warping it you can tell my voice is a tad higher than normal betraying my nerves, and considering the dark chuckle that gives me, Deathstroke noticed.

Fate must be briefly smiling upon me because up ahead of us is a large circular room five stories tall with an indoor courtyard below. It also happens to be lined with catwalks on the outside and directly across from us is another hallway leading towards my escape.

Picking up my pace I jump onto the railing and use the teleporter on my belt to make it to the other side.

Turning I wiggle my fingers at Deathstroke, "Bye-bye."

I see Deathstroke tilt his head to the side before his attention is stolen by the arrival of a green cheetah trying to maul him from behind before I continue onwards.

Fate has apparently put me back on her shit list considering a few turns later a swirling black portal thing pops up in front of me to reveal Raven, or Princess Purple as I like to call her mostly just to piss her off but also because it fits her so damn well considering her Father is a Demon King (and wasn't that an interesting team meeting to listen in on?) and because purple, enough said.

"Hello lovely, I'd love to stay and chat but I'm on a bit of a tight schedule this evening." I charge at her and use the shield she puts up to block my fist to flip myself over her and continue on my journey down the hallway.

Turning right down the next hallway I find myself in a windowed walkway that serves as a shortcut between buildings. Down below I can see the battle waging between Slade and the male members of the Teen Titans.

Looks like the slime put the alien girl out of commission for the rest of the fight.

Once again Princess Purple (you thought I was joking about the nickname didn't you?) appears in front of me but this time I fling a slime 'x' at her which she promptly blocks but that's ok, it was meant to be a distraction and a way to obscure her vision so I could get close enough to punch her in the face without her blocking.

What? I'm not sexist! I know a female is plenty capable of kicking my ass.

…And this one can certainly take a punch if her current teeth grinding, growling, conscious, and overall pissed off form is any indication...

Princess Purple's powers wrap around my body pinning everything below my neck in place before I find myself flying through the air and meeting brief resistance until the window gives out and I'm suddenly plummeting towards the ground five stories below.

...My special brand of chivalry is going to be the death of me one day...

Quickly I hit the button for my teleporter, it sparks ominously for a second but then I feel the familiar jolt and in the next second I reappear a safe distance above the ground. Landing, I flip once backwards to keep my balance and end up almost shoulder to shoulder with Deathstroke.

Oh joy...

"Heh, heh... Fancy meeting you here."

"Red X! Since when did you start working for Slade?! I thought you worked alone!" There is a mocking edge to that last comment. Turning sideways I can see Princess Purple joining her teammates and the sneer twisting Robin's features. "I do work alone, kid. Trust me I'm just as surprised as you about the current situation." Forming a plan I grab a few spoke bombs. Muttering to myself, "One which I intend to get out of."

Throwing the bombs down a large plume of smoke provides immediate cover for a fast retreat. I can feel Deathstroke's presence follow me briefly before suddenly veering off to the side. I only have a few seconds to contemplate this when I hear familiar footfalls behinds me.

It would seem Robin has caught up and Deathstroke, the bastard, is using me as a distraction to escape.

Thinking quickly I run to the nearest ally and using the convenient handholds provided by the fire escape, quickly make it onto the building. Running across it I leap onto the next building about the same time Robin swings onto the rooftop behind me.

What follows is a very typical and honestly boring chase.

...Until we make it into the old parts of the industrial district.

Jumping onto a new building I make it about halfway across before my sense of gravity suddenly shifts sideways as the middle of the roof starts to give in before stopping with a long ominous creak and whine of old wood and metal.

At first I'm relieved but then I hear Robin catching up to my location.

Turning around I call out, but Robin-the idiot-doesn't stop and it's too late to do anything else because the ominous sounds are back and they sound angry.

Fortunately for Robin, he is close enough to the edge to grab onto a sturdy handhold so he's safe for the most part.

Unfortunately for me, my teleporter isn't working and the next thing I know I'm sprawled across what used to be the roof and struggling to breathe.

Fate really did put me on her shit list.

Jerking myself out of my reflexion I observe Deathstroke make an odd gesture with his shoulder and head that looks more like a muscle spasm than anything. A second later one of the bots that I now notice has formed a semicircle around us-probably from when I was unconscious-steps forward and takes Robin's limp form from him.

Turning, Deathstroke strides over towards me.

Oh shit.