The five Titans had gathered in the middle of the pier district. Raven sat cross legged in mid air, meditating. Her eyes popped open.
"That way," she said, pointing towards the water. "Second warehouse from the water, two people inside, one's diffidently Slade." Robin revved his motorcycle and sped off, Starfire following in the air with Beastboy, who turned into a bird. Raven disappeared into black bird of energy.
"Wait for me!" Cyborg exclaimed, starting the t-car and following.
-#-
Batgirl pressed herself against the wall. She heard Slade run into the room somewhere on her right. She glanced back up, confirming that she was in a large warehouse. She smiled as she heard Slade walking around looking for her. She crept across the aisle and pushed herself up onto the nearest crate, scrambling up above eye level as Slade entered the row. She leaned back against the crate, breathing as little as possible as he walked by. Then there was a crash.
"Slade!" Robin yelled from somewhere on her left. If it wouldn't have given her away, she might have sighed. Of course someone would come to rescue her in the middle of escaping. Slade paused right below her. "Slade, we know you're here!"
"Let's turn on the lights!" Beastboy's now unfortunately familiar voice suggested. IDIOT! Dim lights flickered to life, illuminating the warehouse in patches. Fortunately, Slade was looking the other direction. She decided to press her advantage, and leapt at him. She made contact, knocking both of them to the ground.
-#-
"Beastboy, why'd you turn the lights on?" Robin whispered viciously.
"We need to see Slade to find him, right?" Beastboy offered. Robin's glare clearly disagreed.
"Robin, we aren't all as good in the dark as you are," Cyborg backed Beastboy up.
"Batgirl is," Robin hissed. "Split up." The Titans nodded, Cyborg and Beastboy turned to the left, Robin started to the right, and both Starfire and Raven flew up and into the warehouse.
"Here!" Batgirl yelled. Her exclamation was followed by a crash. Robin rushed toward the noise, only to be met with a large stack of crates.
"Slade, please let her go!" Starfire's voice requested from above him.
"Look out!" Batgirl's voice suggested. There was another crash, and the stack of crates tottered, and Robin dove backwards as they fell over.
-#-
Batgirl groaned from among the smashed crates. She took a deep breath, then pushed herself back to her feet. A green bear charged at Slade, only to have him dodge out of the way at the last minute. Next he spun to knock Cyborg off his feet as he attempted to attack from behind. Batgirl wished momentarily for her utility belt before reentering the confrontation.
Slade back-flipped out of the way of a series of bright green blasts from the tall red haired girl, and Batgirl took his momentary distraction by aiming a kick to his shin. He spun out of the way at the last minute, and retaliated with a high kick at her head. Batgirl cart-wheeled out of the way, and Slade smirked slightly at her.
"Lying isn't a good way to start a working relationship you know," he scolded.
"Can't take a hint, can you?" she retorted tersely as she blocked his punch and returned one of her own. However, Slade caught it, twisting her arm uncomfortably.
"I'd reconsider," he advised before twisting her arm further. Batgirl gritted her teeth and tried to kick his side to force him to release her. He did release her arm, but caught her leg and knocked her back to the ground. Batgirl jumped back to her feet as Slade was forced to dodge several crates that were glowing black. Then a familiar brightly colored outline dove down from the rafters, aiming a kick to Slade's head. Slade dodged and countered with a blow to the face. Robin ducked, but was caught by Slade's follow up kick to the legs and knocked over.
"Losing your touch, are you?" Slade taunted.
"Leave him alone!" Starfire yelled, her eyes starting to glow green as she blasted at Slade again. Slade rolled out of the way, and Batgirl dodged the bolts that missed. She'd only just stopped moving when someone seized her gruffly from behind, twisting her already aching arm behind her back and looping their arm around her neck in a choke hold.
"Hello again," Slade hissed into her ear. The five Titans gathered in front of the two of them, Raven's hands glowing black, the Starfire's glowing green, Cyborg held up one of his arms, which appeared to have morphed into a cannon, Beastboy just stood in a ready position, and Robin stood in front, his bo-staff out and held in front of him.
"Let her go Slade," Robin snarled. Slade chuckled slightly, tightening his grip on Batgirl's twisted arm, forcing her to wince.
"That's not where we stand," he purred. "I think you Titans should leave now."
"No way," Cyborg replied.
"I don't know, let's see what she thinks?" Slade answered, glancing down at Batgirl. "Do you think they should leave?" To emphasise her lack of options, he tightened his grip on her arm. Batgirl bowed her head in defeat, bitting her lip. Then she jerked her head back up into him, simultaneously stomping on his foot and throwing her free elbow into Slade's stomach. Slade started to fall backwards, releasing his choke hold but pulling Batgirl's arm with him. Batgirl yelled as she pushed away from him, spinning and delivering a kick to his side, at which point Slade released her arm and fell away from her. She then collapsed forward onto the ground.
"Titans, Go!" Robin yelled, charging forward. Starfire blasted at Slade, who was starting to get up, forcing him to retreat further into the warehouse. "Raven, get her out of here!" Raven swooped to the ground next to Batgirl, then consumed both of them in black energy and they vanished. The remaining four Titans charged after Slade. After a few minutes, Slade stopped against the wall of the warehouse, turning to face his pursuers.
"Now what, Slade?" Robin snapped.
"Just curious," Slade asked. "Who is your new friend?"
"Nobody," Robin replied.
"I'm sensing a party line here," Slade purred. "Don't worry, I'll find out." Then smoke filled the hallway. When it cleared, Slade was gone.