Another fic to drown out my old...stories.

I'll draw stuff for this one too cuz...its fun.

Chapter 1: Old Slade, New Tricks

Two men stood in front of a large screen which was currently projecting stats and bios on 4 young adult superheroes.

"Now remember what I have taught you, my young apprentice," the older man said to the younger one.

"Nightwing," he said. " Strengths are hand to hand combat and strategizing. Weakness is his determination, he can get easily consumed with the thought of winning that he forgets his surroundings."

"Good, remember to exploit that and remember to get him interested. Next."

"Starfire, strengths include enhanced strength and long distance energy blasts. Weakness is her emotion based power and her intense feeling of protectiveness for her team."

"The girl is strong and fairly intelligent but a highly emotional creature. Use that to your advantage."

"Beastboy, his strengths include his quick thinking. His weakness is his own insecurity. "

"Yes, make him feel as if he is weak and not good enough."

"Raven, her strength is her ability to remain calm and focused. She is the voice of reason. Her weakness is her fear and her emotions."

"More so than Starfire. She fears her own ability to destroy, she fears the demon inside her. Unleash the demon carefully."

The young man looked over the profiles one more time. Taking each heroes appearance in.

Nightwing wore a black form-fitting suit with a bluebird on the chest. He was a tall, lean, and muscular man. They had similar body types. He was not quite as tall, maybe an inch or two off but he knew he was stronger.

Starfire was very pretty, just as muscular, but even taller than both of them. 6'4 or so.

Beast Boy was maybe around 5'10, also lean and muscular, and very green.

Raven was by far the smallest, maybe 5'1. A petite demoness. He was sure he could overpower her. Demon blood or not. She was just too small, she looked like a doll. She was quite pretty too.

He took one last glance at the bios and took off.

"Both your grandfather and I look forward to seeing how you handle yourself against the Titans," the older man said to him. "Do not become arrogant. They are no longer young naive teens. They have managed to hinder my plans in the past, if you do not watch yourself they will stop you."

"I understand Wilson, I will not underestimate them.

"Very well, off we go. Remember our goals. I do hope you do not disappoint any of us, Damian."

"I won't."

...

The titan's tower was calm and peaceful. Garfield, known as changeling (previously beast boy), was cooking up a nice meatless dinner that he convinced his team to eat. He had finally succeeded in getting them to eat a nonmeat meal and he was so proud.

kori, the fiery alien, was baking an actual dessert for them. She found a recipe for chocolate brownies on "the online spider web". Dick was watching Kori make the brownies and providing some human tips and tricks.

Raven was reading on the sofa.

It had been a quiet few weeks. No major villains, no major catastrophes. Just simple bank robbers and B league bad guys they would take down in half an hour.

They all took the time to relax and enjoy themselves. Raven sat enjoying her book as she took in the happy images of her friends. It had been 8 years since they had all met, 6 years since they helped her defeat her father, 5 years since they took down the brain and the brotherhood of evil and 1 year since cyborg had left for the justice league. She did miss her surrogate brother but she was proud of him. She had seen the entire team grow and had seen boys become men, girls become women. She herself had grown a lot, she had learned to feel and control her emotions to a degree better than she had before. She was starting to finally feel like a normal person, thanks to the people around her.

Yes, time was good.

"Here taste the sauce," Gar asked, bringing her out of her thoughts. "It's made from coconut milk, tomatoes, and vegan cheese. I swear its good."

Raven stared at the ladle that was level with her mouth. Had this been the past she would have vanished the ladle to another dimension, the green boy still attached, but it wasn't and so she took a taste.

"This is actually very nice Gar," she said with an honest and astounded face. " I don't know why to say."

"You say, "gosh Beastboy I'm sorry for making fun of you all these years, please cook for us forever and always!" "The young green man told her with a big handsome grin on his face.

Raven smiled then raised an eyebrow, making Garfield pale slightly.

"Haha kidding, please don't turn me into a dung beetle again!"

Raven laughed and went back to her book.

"My dear friend Raven," Starfire said, holding a spoonful of cookie dough to her mouth. " It is only fair that you taste my brownie batter!"

Raven smiled and took the spoon. It was plain old brownie batter without any Starfire additions. Thank Azar.

She gave her friend a thumbs up and the red-haired alien went sprinting to the boys for their opinions.

What a nice day. That was until the alarms started blaring and the telltale burnt orange mask appeared on the screen.

"Hello, Titans," the masked man said. " It has been a while, hasn't it."

"Slade," Nightwing seethed. "What do you want !?"

"No streamers and poppers to welcome me back," the villain said. " I am hurt. Missing the robot too, did he decide you were below his pay grade?"

Raven could sense her leader's blood pressure rise in anger and anticipation. Changeling was angry as well but she could sense a surge of bitterness and heartache, she figured Slade brought out memories of Terra (who had left jump city and joined power girl after asking Changeling to leave her be, she had broken his heart again). She could sense Starfire was worried for Nightwing. Both girls knew how he could become obsessed with defeating Slade. This would be no exception.

"What do you want Slade?" Raven said repeating her leader's question.

Slade focused his one good eye on the young adults.

"Raven," he said making her shudder in discomfort. " I see you grew your hair out, it suits you. I'm reminded of our encounter on your birthday. You do have lovely skin as well, especially when it's..."

"What do you want Slade!?," Nightwing yelled with terrifying ferocity.

Slade just looked at the team. Raven swore she could sense his smirk, even through the computer screen.

"I'm here to warn you all," he said. "I have placed five large explosives in five parts of the city. Think of it as my own welcome back gift to you. You have three hours ."

With that, the screen shut off.

The Titans gathered around to hear their leaders plan.

"Titans, be careful," Nightwing said. " Do not fall for slades traps. It's been years and we are rusty against him. We all know what one misstep with him can cost us. Do not underestimate him. Do not let him get the upper hand against you."

They all nodded.

"Changeling," he called. "Let me talk to you really fast. Ladies, head out and be vigilant and careful. Go to the last point when you diffuse your bomb."

The two young women nodded and took off.

...

Raven was assigned the roof of an abandoned building. Using a tracker given to her by Cyborg prior to his promotion to the justice league, she scanned the area. She found the bomb relatively quickly and deactivated it.

"Nightwing," she said into her communicator. "This was too easy, should I stay or should I head to the next area."

"Go to the next place," he replied back. "Proceed with extreme caution Raven, Slade hasn't popped up at any of the sites but Star and Changeling are both battling bots. I've already got my bomb deactivated so I'll meet you at the warehouse."

Raven nodded and headed off.

She had a bad feeling about this mission. Slade was always a wildcard to them. What he had in store she could only guess.

...

The abandoned building was in a remote part of the city. It was a large warehouse that looked like it had been used as a storage facility for building materials. Everything was dusty and covered in cobwebs. It was very much Slade's preferred environment for a surprise attack.

Raven sensed as Nightwing joined her.

"Did you find the bomb," he said as he walked up to her.

"No," she replied. "I just got here."

"My tracker indicates that there is no bomb here, I think this is a setup or a trap."

Raven could sense the appearance of two more people. One was Slade but the other was unknown. It was definitely a trap.

"We've got company Nightwing," the empath told her leader.

"Stay alert," he replied as he brandished his bo staff.

"If it isn't the two resident bluebirds," the voice of Slade rang out. " Just the two I wanted to see."

Both birds turned to the direction of the voice. Slade was standing on a catwalk of sorts high above them, a man about Nightwings height but a slightly larger build was with him. He had a long bladed sword in his hand. Raven could feel anticipation rolling off him.

Slade brought a new apprentice. The playing field just became more dangerous.

The two titans went into defense mode.

...

"I will get the girl," Slade said to Damian. "You take down Nightwing."

Damian huffed.

"I can take down that slip of a girl," Damian replied. "Powers or not."

Damian could feel Slade's glare. He was about to be reprimanded.

"All we need is the girl," Slade hissed. "You're grandfather specifically paid ME to take the girl. Do As You're Told!"

Damian scowled but did as he was told. He was going to take down the original Robin. How exciting.

...

Raven and Nightwing stood men in their defensive stance. Of course, Slade would have a new apprentice. The question was how strong was this one? How much of a problem would he be?

"Raven what can you sense from this guy? Nightwing asked her.

" He has a lot of dislike and animosity directly targeted at you Nightwing," she told him. "Either you know him or he knows you."

Nightwing looked towards the new man and stared.

"He looks familiar," Nightwing said. " I just can't place him."

"If you two are done talking," the mysterious new man said. " We are only here for her."

He pointed a sharpened sword at Raven. Nightwing immediately pushed her behind him.

Raven could sense the tension and anticipation in the room thickening. Nightwing was on the defense, the apprentice was feeling what Raven could only describe as bloodthirsty, Slade was cool and collected as was usual. All three men were ready to fight.

" Raven get out of here," Nightwing told her. "I'm sure Changeling or Star will be here soon. Get somewhere safe."

"Don't be stupid," she deadpanned. " I'm not going to let you fight ..."

Before she could finish, the apprentice had jumped sword first and Nightwing who pushed her away. Slade immediately jumped down as she picked herself up.

"You," he said as he sauntered towards her. "Are not going anywhere."

The fight had begun.

...

Raven didn't want to phase out of the room and leave Nightwing to fend for himself. That wasn't how a Titan did things. She would face Slade, who was now right in front of her.

Slade had his hands crossed behind him he. He was standing tall and confident. It unnerved her as it brought back memories of that fateful birthday.

"I have a proposition for you little bird," he said now directly in front of her.

He was so close to her, he was towering over her. She was a small woman, this she knew, but she felt even smaller with slade looking down at her with his one good eye. Still, she held her stance and looked up at him. She wouldn't cower against him.

"You are a creature of pure power," he said to her, grabbing a lock of her hair. " It is quite entrancing, Raven."

Raven stepped back but he grabbed her face between one hand and used the other to grab her and bring her closer to his body. It was disturbingly intimate but as much as she wanted to, she knew it wasn't the time to attack. Slade was too close, he could stop her at this proximity. She had to either distract the man or get far enough to phase away and grab Nightwing. The fight was definitely not going in their favor and she was getting frazzled and unfocused.

There were so many emotions surrounding her. The apprentice had such loud and strong emotion, Slade was so calm and collected but confident. All she could feel was the apprentices' bloodthirst and a subtle feeling of excitement from Slade. SHe could also feel Nightwings anxiety and anger. It was clouding her thoughts.

Throughout the years since she had become a Titan, she had worked on improving her empathic abilities and her control over her emotion-based powers. She had improved, she was able to control her powers and even feel emotions better. Yet with Slade in her presence and his apprentice with horribly loud feelings, she felt as if she took 10 steps backward.

"Don't touch me," she hissed at Slade. A migraine forming.

Slade chuckled and suddenly she was thrown against the wall. She could feel the metal of Slade's armor digging into her own body and she was eye level with his face. She could feel his warm breath from the slots on his mask. It was minty and earthy. It was unnerving.

" I will touch you however I want," he said digging his leg into her thigh to emphasize his point. The metal cut into her skin. " Now listen to me pretty bird. My apprentice, Damian, his goal is to do what I say. I told him to dispose of your leader, he will kill him."

Raven didn't doubt what Slade was saying, she could feel the murderous intent in the young psycho who she just learned was named Damian.

"What do you want Slade," she asked.

"I want you to forfeit yourself to me," he said twirling another strand of hair. "I call off Damian and my bots which will kill the other two Titans. If you refuse I will take you anyhow and let the other Titans die."

Slade was not bluffing. Raven felt defeated. She should have listened to Nightwing and ran. No. She should have fought immediately instead of letting Slade get close enough to apprehend her. She had to do something now

"Why are you asking me," she asked the masked man. " You already have me trapped between a rock and an asshole. What are you really aiming for?"

Slade pulled her hair back and her head hit the wall but it was the reaction she needed. She had to make Slade angry, it would distract him.

" I don't need you to be willing, little bird," he said. "I just didn't want to have to fight you and if you rather you let your friends die and you still lose to me, then so be it."

Before Raven could reply she suddenly felt an excruciating pain in her side. A pain that wasn't her own. All the emotions she felt from the three men suddenly turned to one of utter fear and pain. All coming from one person.

It was Nightwing. He had been stabbed. She could feel the blade in his abdomen as if it was in her as well.

Before either the hero or the villain could think, Raven lost all form of control and sent Slade flying back with a huge burst of power. He hit the wall with a sickening slam and for once Slade was knocked unconscious.

Raven didn't even realize she had rendered the man unconscious as she was almost on autopilot headed towards Nightwing.

...

Damian was annoyed. He had not expected the former boy wonder to be this hard to defeat. Yes, the man was trained by Batman himself but Damian knew he was something else. He was trained by the league of assassins, he was trained by Ra's Al Ghul and he was the son of Batman.

This black and blue costumed dick should have been black and blue with bruises by now, not still standing.

"Looking a little tired there kid," the titan said to him. "Slade has really let his standards go."

Damian growled and amped up his attack. The clang of bo staff versus sword sounding like thunder in the abandoned building.

Nightwing continued to dodge or block each stroke of his blade. Finally, Nightwing got the upper hand and kicked him to the floor.

Damian fell with a thumb. Nightwing bo-staff pointed at his chest.

"So what did he promise you," Nightwing taunted. " Power, money, control? It doesn't have to be this way. Slades not worth it."

"You underestimate me," Damian said, discretely pulling out a long dagger. " Slade isn't my boss, he's just a teacher."

"You tell yourself that," Nightwing said pointing his staff at him.

Before Nightwing could say anything more Damian lunged at the Titan. The dagger sliding into his body like butter.

Nightwing fell back with a grunt of pain.

"Unlike you," he told the bleeding ex-boy wonder. "I am actually worthy. You, you are going to die, you insignificant worm."

Damian pulled out the dagger, earning a hiss of pain from Nightwing. He was about to plunge it into the man's heart when suddenly he was enveloped in a black field of energy and flung towards a stack of boxes.

The girl, Raven, was at Nightwings side and gone with him in the next second.

They had lost.

...

Sometimes you just gotta write something you want to see and have yet to. Once again I've changed the ages of the characters and changed a major detail. Yes, that is Damian Wayne but in this but he was never introduced to Bruce. He is 20 years old, has been training with the league of assassins and is making his villainous debut as Slade's new apprentice, something Ra's thinks will be good for him.

This is Raven-centric. She is 22, changeling or beast boy is 21, Starfire is 26, the cyborg is in the JL and not in my story, Nightwing is 24. They have been a team for 8 years. On yo my story. I am not too sure if this will have a love triangle or not.

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My DeviantArt username is Wolfeternity