AN- God, tenth grade is ridiculous. I think you should all give a round of applause to UnknownRobin, whose review tonight made me feel this sudden urge to keep going. I've been a bad girl, I know. But I'm still here. Thanks to the lovely reviewers, Necronom Hezberek Mortix, Tsuki- hime Neko, RobRae4Ever, and purplepineapples. And of course, thanks to UnknownRobin.

Predator

Chapter 7: Numb

"Where is she?" Suddenly Robin was directly before Starfire, his eyes wide with anticipation. Starfire took an involuntary step back- her cheek still stung from his blow. She was saved from speaking by Cyborg, who put a large hand on her shoulder and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Starfire. Would you be willing to take us to her?" Cyborg's voice was calm, and he gave Robin an even, cautionary look over Starfire's shoulder. Robin stepped back, and turned away from the two of them. He saw Starfire nod from the corner of his eye.

"Okay Star, then we'll get in the T-Car, and you just tell me where to drive, okay?" She nodded once more. She turned slowly and left the control room. Cyborg followed close behind, and Robin and Beast Boy fell into line as well. Robin felt something poke him in the back.

"Hey, Rob…," Beast Boy said in an exaggerated whisper.

"Just stop, BB. I don't want to hear it. Not now." Robin didn't spare him a glance, and behind him, the shapeshifter's face fell. They trudged on in silence until they reached the garage. Now Starfire looked uncertain again, as if the previous walking had given her a purpose and now she had forgotten everything. Cyborg gestured to the car, and she blinked hard, as if coming from a trance. She opened the door and sat in the passenger's seat. Cyborg raised an eyebrow, but then went to sit in the driver's seat. Beast Boy was already heading towards the car as well, and Robin followed despite the urge to take his R-Cycle instead. The T-Car was just so slow, and he knew that the car would be so quiet. He didn't know if he could handle it.

Robin's prediction was correct. The ride was quiet. Occasionally Starfire would turn to Cyborg and whisper a direction in his ear. The car was moving so slowly, and the scenery was passing so slowly, and their hearts were beating so slowly. He pressed his nose to the window and watched it fog up from his breath. Around them the sky was growing darker and darker.

The silence was grating on him. He had to cough every once in a while just so the silence wouldn't drive him insane, although Cyborg kept shooting him looks and Starfire was slipping lower in her seat.

It was the first time he could ever remember Beast By being silent.

It was still cold, and she was still numb. Raven had sat huddled for hours now, her knees pulled tight to her chest. Her stomach was twisting uncomfortably, and she gritted her teeth in order to suppress a cry. Bone white hands clenched into even whiter fists, and the woman of stone buried her head in her lap and silently wept.

The sobbing hurt her chest, because although she was crying, there were no tears and all she felt was empty. Cold and numb and empty. She kept her voice down. Slade didn't need to know. She couldn't let him know.

Slade hadn't been to visit her in these hours. She was sure he had his own motive for this, but at the moment she really couldn't afford to care. Everything hurt, and she kept seeing Starfire, in that, that thing- and how Robin reached out to her, almost as if time had slowed.

Now she saw Slade at the door, out of the corner of her eye.

"Go away," she whispered hoarsely. She let her hair fall into her face to keep him from looking into her eyes. In a flash, he appeared before her and grasped her chin, wrenching it upward so her hair fell backwards and their eyes met. He gently rubbed her cheek with the pad of his thumb, an intense and unreadable emotion exuding through his mask. She shivered and tried to pull away.

"So now do you understand, Raven? Do you see why you should hate the titans?" She squeezed her eyes shut. "Do you? Answer me."

It felt like an eternity before she could finally remember how to use her mouth. "I…I do." He let go of her chin and she let her head drop forward with the force. Broken.

Slade's mask hid his smile but she knew it was there.

"Raven, it seems that now the both of us have a common goal. Do you understand me?"

She nodded. "I understand." Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard.

"Now if you want to defeat the titans-,"

"I don't want to defeat the titans," She still sounded uncertain.

"Raven-,"

"No. I just- I just don't want to see them. Ever again."

Slade sighed, and knelt before her. "Listen to me, Raven. The titans have hurt you. And I don't know you so well. You could be completely new to revenge." His eyes bored into hers, and she felt her body go rigid. "But there is nothing more…stimulating." He breathed the words across her parted lips, and she shuddered. For a second, she could have sworn that her heart stopped. He chuckled and stood. "Think about it, Raven. Would you rather let them win, or let them pay for how they've hurt you?"

He left then, the door slamming into place behind him. She watched the door for a second, and thought about how she could try to escape right then and there. He had been gone for a few moments then, and if she chose the right corridors- but then came the horrible question.

Where could she go?

Not back to the tower, never back to the tower. Could she go to Titans East? No, she would never be able to stand their questions. Azarath was not an option. It just wasn't. She had always liked Gotham, but she couldn't find the strength to stand. Maybe she would stay with Slade.

Just for a while.

Just until she could figure out where to go.

Just stay with Slade.

It couldn't hurt.

She could do it.

Just for now.

AN- I apologize to UnknownRobin for taking a few days too long- I didn't want to post it when I promised because I couldn't figure out how to finish it and I wanted you guys to get the best, so here you go!

Until next time,

Ignite the Airwaves