Chapter 2: Failure

Just her? Raven had no time to retaliate or even protest verbally before she felt strong, mechanical arms wrap around her and trap her. She struggled and yelled but it was all in vain. The other Titans heard her and could see what was going on but every time they beat down one of the robots and tried getting closer, another always seemed to pop up and block their direction. Raven meanwhile was writhing with anger yet stubborn as ever, not wanting to rely or call on her demon blood to rescue her. She couldn't control it well once it was cut loose.

"Then tell me what you want from me!"

Slade was bemused by her vain attempts to break from the robot's hold and maybe…at the same time surprised. He knew she could force her way out if she so desired. Was she playing a devious tactic to lure him closer? If this was the plan, Slade already knew how to dissemble it. He approached the trapped girl while still holding to the knocked out Beast Boy for protection purposes. He stood a mere few feet from her, his one eye gazing over her glaring eyes and gritted teeth.

"I have never been known to give compliments freely, Raven. I was not lying when I said I was impressed with your power."

The voice he carried rubbed her the wrong way that she was visibly wincing. He had no right to talk to her like that. Raven squirmed more in the robot's grip and wanting nothing more than to destroy Slade like Terra had…but not if he was continuing to hold onto Beast Boy. But what if she transformed into her black raven form and flew away? Would they consider her a coward? And there was no telling what he might do to her friend since Slade probably thought of him as "disposable".

"You didn't think that helping you defeat your father was going to free, did you? The way I see it, you are in my debt. If I hadn't led Robin to the right place…well, needless to say what this world would be like."

Owed him? Owed him what?! He was saving his own skin (and soul) by helping Robin find her! Wouldn't that have been his "payment" he was talking of?! She shouldn't have to owe him anything personally, but there didn't seem to be no sense in arguing. Not that she wasn't going to say no and protest that she be the one responsible for owing him.

"I don't owe you anything! You did it to save yourself!"

"But after I gained my mortality back, I still joined the fight. I could have stayed on the sidelines and let you and your friends deal with it. Isn't that deserving of some merit?"

Raven felt disgust knowing Slade was correct. Slade could have easily ran away and waited for her and the others to defeat Trigon. Instead, the man made a dramatic entrance to the fight. He came down armed with a fiery weapon and slashed off one of Trigon's large horns. Slade stood at their side and was prepared to fight alongside them for the greater good. Raven rememebered the look in the man's eye and how empowered she felt that even their worst enemy was going to fight and protect them. Seeing Slade knocked across the rubble and knocked cold was disheartening and helped her find the inner powers she possessed. Thinking about the past only made it clear to her that she couldn't say no to Slade.

"If you let me explain what I want, you'll find it will be for the better. It's a rather simple arrangement."

She didn't trust him. If he went so far as to remind her that he had complimented her power and strength, then Raven already knew that was what Slade was after, and she wasn't going to be anything short of compliant. If only she could get out of this robot's bind and get her friend out of Slade's clutches she could really deal her damage and show the man how she felt about this little "deal" he was trying to orchestrate.

"You really think I would agree to something like this?"

"No. But it was worth a try."

Before another word slipped from her mouth, Raven felt a very heavy blow to the back of her head. The pain was excruciating for a moment before a numbness fell over her and her eyes fluttered and closed.

* * *

Pain. It felt like her head was going to explode if she dared to move it a mere inch. It pulsed and ached, making her wish she was still asleep. Raven's eyes shifted around to see where she was, worried that after being knocked out, Slade gotten a chance to abduct her…She let out a sigh of relief when she realized that she was in the Tower's infirmary. She was safe here. No more reason to worry or be tense. Her next goal was to locate a clock. How long had she been out? Was it daytime already or still the same night? Since the infirmary had no windows, Raven couldn't tell what time of the day it was.

"Raven?"

She turned her head to the voice's direction and sure enough, saw Robin standing at the door's entryway. She propped herself up and bared the excruciating pain shooting through her brain. Robin approached her bedside and quietly handed a small paper cup to her, containing two red tablets. Raven stared into the cup for a moment in silence. It was becoming apparent she wasn't in the mood for company. She just wanted to find Slade and rip him apart for this.

"The pills…they're for your headache. We uh, saw that robot hit you pretty hard…I figured you might have a bad headache after waking."

Raven heard water splashing into a glass and glancing to the side, saw Robin pouring water from a jug into a glass for her. She shouldn't focus her anger on Robin. This wasn't his fault. Raven calmed herself down while her friend was here. She took her medicine like a good patient but afterwards, couldn't think of anything to say to start a conversation. She toyed with the paper cup for a while, hoping Robin would say something.

"Beast Boy's ok. He woke up a few hours ago…but went to bed in his own room."

Raven gave a small smile. At least she knew he was okay and not too injured. The others must have intervened just at the right time to save her and Beast Boy.

"That's good…did you…manage to get him?"

Robin frowned at that question. Like all the other times, Slade once again slipped through their grasp. Once Robin and Starfire finally broke through the army of robots, they saw Slade picking Raven up. They immediately halted that but in the midst of the battle, he managed to slip away and disappear from sight. Raven took Robin's silence as a negative and grimaced. So Slade was still out there and as long as he had a reason to seek her out for her power, he was going to. The only question was how did he want to use her power? He said it would have been painless and wouldn't take much time. If he was planning to take over the city and run it as his own personal playground, what did her powers have to do with it? Raven was not Terra. She couldn't be manipulated easily and wasn't weak enough to have a desire to rely on others.

"Raven! You are ok!"

The airy, happy voice of Starfire changed the whole atmosphere of the room when she came in, followed by Cyborg. Both took up residence at the sides of her bed and were asking her all kinds of questions. Mainly the same one of, "Are you ok?". She kept assuring them she was fine and that only she had a headache. Though it was a bit annoying, Raven had to admit she liked to know people actually worried and cared for her…it was a nice feeling to know you belonged.

* * *

Slade walked down the dark corridor. He failed. The man he was working with was not going to be happy to hear about this. However, Slade secretly didn't care what he thought. Slade would work for anyone, but he wasn't to be taken for granted. One wrong word or reason for doubt and Slade was done. He had no remorse for turning coat if he found there was no longer any advantage for him. A large wooden door was pushed open and Slade walked in to see the man sitting at his polished desk and watching. How he longed to hold a gun again and kill this idiot…

"Slade? Where's the girl?"

"There was a problem. A simple snag in the line, nothing much."

A frown came over the other man's features at the masked one before him. Slade's reputation for being loyal only to himself was well-known…but so was his skills whoever wished to call on his help. And since he was "intimate" with the Titans, that was the kind of man he needed to capture their demon girl.

"I want her here soon. No more excuses!"

Slade grimaced behind his mask at this spoiled man before him. He was like a whiny baby who didn't get its way. It was irritating. Slade only gave an affirmative nod before turning on heel and walking out of the room. If he stayed any longer he might mouth off and cause a problem in his other "plans". Slade didn't need that.