I don't own Teen Titans, never have, never will :)
Raven pounded down the street as fast as she could. Her feet were unused to sprinting so much and so far and her thin shoes were not made for running, but she ignored their protests. Raven stumbled as she splashed through a puddle. Her long blue cape clung wetly to the back of her legs, completely soaked.
I hurt him. I hurt Beast Boy.
She was sore and quickly losing feeling in her feet as she continued to run somewhere, anywhere away. Flight was not an option as that would mean the use of her powers, and her emotions were only just barely in check. Everything was numb and cold, wet and unreal. Raven reached a dead end, lost because she had not traveled around the city by foot in a long time. She whirled frantically to run back the way she came. It wouldn't be long until the Titans caught up to her, certainly. Her only advantage was that they would probably be looking in the sky for her, instead of in a dead-end alley all drenched and lost, like a little lost kitten. She felt more like a caged lion.
What had she done?
She was worse, worse than Doctor Light, or the Hive Five, or even Madam Rouge. She was worse, because she had succeeded. She had effectively erased a Titan. Beast Boy was gone; gone to another dimension, another time, or perhaps just gone. The trashcans around Raven shook, tipping over and spilling out their nasty guts all over the alley. The trash itself shook and levitated, uncertain of what to do with the loose magic that escaped Raven's tenuous grip on her powers.
"Get your emotions under control!" She scolded herself. Raven took a deep breath and tried to focus on remaining calm. She closed her eyes.
"Azerath Metrion Zinthos."
It was an accident. She reasoned.
"Azerath Metrion Zinthos."
I didn't mean to. I could explain. Raven consoled herself. But even as she told herself that, another thought creeped into the back of her mind. What if they don't listen?
"Azerath Metrion-" She began.
"Zinthos." A deep male voice finished.
Raven whirled to find the source of the noise which had eerily originated from behind her.
Slade stood there, his single eye leering at her from his half-black, half-orange mask.
Raven took a step back. "What do you want?"
He laughed in response, a deep foreboding chuckle that sent shivers down her spine.
"Nothing Raven, I don't want anything. I was simply passing by and saw an old friend in need." He took a step forward towards her and folded his arms behind his back. Raven backed up as he advanced, keeping the space between them equal.
"I don't need your 'help.'" She snapped, her eyes flashing red. "I saw what you did to Robin, to Terra, when you 'helped' them."
She didn't need to see his face to know he was smiling behind the mask. "You give me no credit, dear Raven. They both improved greatly due to my help, and Terra even managed complete control of her powers." His eye looked at her quizzically like a carrion bird inspecting a potential food source. "Although I imagine your powers are much more complex than hers." He was walking around her now, circling. It was almost like he was stalking her, he was the panther, and she was the prey; A raven.
Raven's eyes began to glow an unnatural white, lighting up her usually shadowed features. Her hands began to leak dark energy. Black fire covered the backs of her hands and licked at her palms. When she spoke, her voice seemed layered as if it was not just Raven talking, but many other dark creatures chattering simultaneously.
"Leave me alone." She threatened.
"Temper, temper." He chided, "Wouldn't want to lose control and accidentally hurt someone."
Again. She finished mentally.
"I don't care if I hurt you!" She shouted and a nearby window shattered into a thousand small fragments. A pair of fiery red eyes appeared above her normal ones. Darkness flowed out from under her cape, tentacles and whips that looked ready to strike. Raven gripped her head in pain.
Azerath Metrion Zinthos. She chanted inwardly. Must not lose control. Must not-
Then something impacted with her cheek, a fist. The force behind the punch sent Raven flying backwards into the wall behind her. Slade was on her in an instant, holding her up by her throat with a steel hand.
"Raven." Two voices said at once. One was far off, it sounded like the Titans were still searching. They would be too late. The other voice was right in front of her, hissing her name like a curse in her ancient books. Raven almost wished Robin would find her. Slade's grip was crushing her windpipe as if he was going to strangle her. She knew there would be no chance of saying those three familiar words, and already spots swam behind her eyes.
"You see Raven, demonic powers are so hard to control from what I hear. You can either learn to control them, or let them destroy your life around you."
Raven gasped soundlessly for air. She could not longer focus her powers even if she wanted to. Slade loosened his grip a little, not choking her anymore although he continued to pin her against the wall. Her hands gripped his forearm weakly, unable to do anything to combat his assault.
Slade's eye narrowed. "You are all alone Raven. The Titans may be looking for you, but they don't want to find you. They want to watch over you and when you finally lose control, they'll destroy you." He released his iron grip and she slumped to the ground, gasping.
"What I like about you, Raven, is that I don't have to teach you how to be evil. You already are." His gaze intensified. "No matter how hard you struggle or save little kittens from trees; deep down, you were meant to destroy the world. One way or another. And the best part is, there is nothing you can do to stop it."
Footsteps echoed down the alley and Raven glimpse Robin running full speed towards them. Slade turned to leave.
"Another time then, my dear." He promised. "Try to destroy another Titan for me please, it is so much easier when I don't have to do it myself."
He vanished, and she blacked out.
A/N: This is only my second fanfiction posted up here on FF, so keep the flames in your hearth okay? I've had this sitting on my computer for the longest time and I just thought I should post it before it was accidentally deleted. I have no beta, and this is probably gonna stay as a one-shot. Hope you enjoyed a moment of Slade thriller.. Poor Raven.
Edit: When I posted this the first time, it looked like Swiss cheese. Words and sentences were missing, but I patched it up as best I could. Not *that* much was missing, but I think it's all there now!