Gladiator

I know I'm publishing this early but I'm going out tonight and I still have to get ready and Oh the drama. The person won't be getting killed till the next chapter so you still have time to vote. I WON'T be killing Richard, Raven, Alex or Akasha.

Disclaimer. I own nothing.

That night Raven lay in her room thinking. She was hoping that Richard would come and visit but it was now two in the morning and the last two nights he had been there before twelve. Deciding to call it a night she got under the covers and snuggled into the blankets. Just before she was about to turn off the light the bedroom door opened and Alex slipped in. "Mom", he whispered before climbing on to the bed. "Hey what's wrong", asked a very concerned Raven.

"Nightmare", he mumbled before lying down beside his mother. He obviously didn't want to talk about it so Raven simply soothed him by stroking his hair and hugging him. Raven remembered after going into Richard's mind when he thought Slade was attacking him and creating the bond with him. She saw his past. All the things he suffered and the nightmares as well. After the bond was created she would wake up in the night hearing Richard in her mind. She would then go down to his room to comfort him. That was how they started to get close and eventually get together. She soothed her son in the same way she soothed Richard.

Alex relaxed to his mother's touch but didn't fall asleep. He just lay their enjoying his mother's comfort. It had been so long since they had just been together on their own. Sure they had talked on the beach but Akasha had been there to interrupt them. He loved his half sister but sometimes he couldn't help but be jealous of her. She was the youngest so she got spoilt. Then Alex heard footsteps outside on the balcony. Raven had fallen asleep so she didn't hear anything. Slipping out of bed he decided to investigate.


Richard had finally been able to sneak out of his cell. There was a new guard there who wanted to impress the older guards who would have just gone to bed by now. The new guard kept marching up and down the cells keeping everyone awake. Everyone was tired and growling at the guard but he took no notice. Eventually the guard decided to sit down for a break and fell asleep so Richard could sneak out again.

Doing the same thing he did the last two nights he made his way to the castle and easily scaled the wall. Climbing over the balcony Richard heard only gentle breathing. Raven must be asleep. Richard had gotten to the door of the balcony when a figure stepped out in front of him. The figure was small and had spiky hair. Richard recognised him. It was the boy who had talked to him before his first game. It was his son. Alex.

"Hey your that gladiator I talked to", said Alex. "What are you doing here"?

"I'm here to talk to your mother", answered Richard. If Raven had thought he was dead then Alex must think the same thing. Alex looked at him suspiciously. Was that gladiator really going to just let him waltz into the room to his mother? Raven had warned him many times about Slade's enemies and that they would kill anyone close to him. "Why do you want to talk to my mother", asked Alex.

Richard gritted his teeth. This was going to be harder than he thought. "It's private", he answered. Alex still stood there with his arms folded. Well he was Richard's son all right.

Raven was waked from her sleep by voices. They were on her balcony. Raven checked the time. It was half two so it must be Richard. Raven noticed that there was a person missing beside her. The other person was Alex. Making her way out of bed she made her way over to the balcony. "Can't a girl get any sleep around here", she asked yawning. "Hello Richard".

Alex turned around in surprise. "You know him", he said. Raven nodded. "He's your father".


Lying on the bed Raven smiled at her son and lover as they talked. After explaining everything to Alex, Richard and him had spent the last while talking about everything. Richard told him about all the missions the titans went on, all the villains they took down together and all their victories. Raven lay their just listening enjoying the memories. It felt so long ago that these happened.

"And that's how we stopped the brotherhood of evil", finished Richard. Alex was just sitting there in awe. Raven smiled and cuddled into the pillow to get more comfortable. This was so nice. No problems until….

Knock

Raven shot up from her bed. Richard leapt out of the bed and ran to the balcony but didn't climb down. It was too risky incase someone heard him and who knows. It could just be Akasha. Raven calmed her emotions down and went to answer the door. Alex just sat there. Raven opened the door and it was…

Xavier. Raven let out a sigh of relief. "Don't do that", snarled Raven giving him a small slap and let him into the room. Xavier looked around the room and smiled. "You can tell chuckles he can come out now". (If you don't know who Xavier is now then you don't watch enough teen titans episodes) Richard came out from the balcony glaring.

"Red X"

"Nice to see you too chuckles. How long has it been? Well it has been a while cause last time Raven wasn't banged up".

Richard just wanted to strangle X. How can one man be so annoying. Even Beastboy wasn't that annoying. Turning around to Raven he asked, "Can we really trust him"? Xavier just looked wounded.

"After all we've been through you don't trust me. I'm hurt". Xavier wiped away a fake tear and sat on the bed beside Alex clutching his heart. Alex started to laugh. Raven gave a small smile and Richard just glared. Richard turned to look at Raven and noticed she was smiling. That made Richard angrier.

"What do you want", growled Richard. Xavier looked a bit surprised by his tone but didn't press it. Taking out plans of the droids he handed them to Richard. Richard looked at them and nodded. He put them in his back pocket.

"Any plans on how you're going to kill Slade", asked Xavier lying back on the bed.

Richard shook his head. "I would suggest poison but since Slade prepares his meals himself it would be useless", said Xavier. This didn't surprise Richard at all. According to Raven Slade wasn't very popular. He must get several death treats each day.

"I want to see Slade suffer", growled Richard.

"We have to see what he's planning", said Raven. Before they could continue anymore the door opened and Akasha slipped in. Going over to her mother she put her arms around Raven's leg. "Hello Mummy, hello mummy's boyfriend, hello mummy's friend, hello Alex".

Raven picked up Akasha and sat down beside Alex. Alex snuggled up beside his mother in an attempt to get some attention. Getting back on track Richard continued speaking to Xavier. "Do you not know what he's planning"?

Xavier shook his head. "He only tells his plans to the governor of some place. Can't think where though", answered Xavier trying to think of the place.

"And who's that".

"Brother Blood", Raven answered. Richard groaned. This was going to be harder than he thought. "We need a spy to go into the meetings with Slade and Brother Blood and find out what there planning", decided Richard.

Raven stared at him. "And who are we going to get to do that", asked Raven. Richard looked over at Raven and then lowered his eyes to the small girl and smiled.


"I'm a bad mother", moaned Raven. It was the next day and they were down in the cells. This time Akasha was with them. Cyborg was putting a wire on her so they could listen to whatever Slade was saying. Speedy, Bee and Jinx were in the room as well. Xavier had got the wires. From where they didn't know. "I'm a bad mother", Raven repeated as she walked back and forth.

"Your not", Richard soothed. It wasn't working though.

"All done", said Cyborg as he put Akasha on the ground. Akasha ran over to her mother showing off where her wire was. "Mummy why aren't I allowed to show daddy the wire's" asked a confused Akasha. "Is it one of our special secrets?

Raven nodded. Suddenly feeling a bit sick she sat down. "Are you ok", asked a concerned Richard. Raven almost laughed. Even after all these years Richard was still the same leader. Raven was about to answer when the door bust open and a seriously thick Cheshire stomped in and grabbed Speedy by his uniform.

"I hope you are happy", growled Cheshire. "I'm pregnant and it's all your fault". She slapped him on the face and left the room. Everyone sat there in silence until Akasha asked. "How do Daddy's get Mummy's pregnant"?


"Cheshire", Richard deadpanned. "Of all the girls you screwed you had to go with the assassin. You are so dead". Raven had left to bring Akasha up to the castle for the meeting.

"We said the same thing about you and Raven", mumbled Speedy. Richard sat there in silence. How the hell was a child supposed to be raised here? They fought for there lives everyday. What if Cheshire was killed in battle? Who would raise the child then? The titans had more reason to get out of here now.


An hour later everyone was listening in to the radio that was connected to the wire's that were on Akasha. Raven had brought Akasha back up to the castle so she could go into the meeting and then returned to the titans so she could listen in as well. Raven was curious to hear what Slade said behind her back. Cyborg hushed everyone to be quiet. Akasha was going in.


Akasha opened the door and entered the room where her father and the man who looked like a priest had their meetings. Brother Blood scared her. With the baldhead and that outfit wouldn't you be afraid as well. Once she entered the room Slade and Brother Blood turned to see whom it was. "Hi Daddy", said Akasha. Slade ignored her as usual and went back to the meeting. Akasha pouted and stomped over to her father. Being ignored again Akasha sat down on the floor and played with two dolls she had brought with her. Her mother had told her to get as close to her father as possible and be quiet. Being quiet was something Akasha did not do well but she decided to try her best.

Slade started talking about importing nuclear weapons. Akasha didn't even know what nuclear meant. "Must be a grown up word", decided Akasha. They were discussing other things as well. Akasha had bee there for less than five minutes and she was bored out of her skull.

Cyborg gasped when he heard what weapons Slade was importing. Equipped with the droids they would be unstoppable. "I heard you have Cyborg in here", said Brother Blood. Cyborg listened intently now. Whenever Brother Blood mentioned his name it wasn't good.

"I'll have to come and watch these games then", chuckled Brother Blood. "I would love to watch Cyborg get thrown apart when the droids are upgraded". Cyborg bared his teeth. When it came to Brother Blood Cyborg was as bad as Richard was with Slade.

Brother Blood was getting up to leave but before he left the room he turned back to Slade. "Oh by the way I've heard some things about your wife." The titans sat there stunned. Could Brother Blood know?

"The maids told me that you're wife has gone through seven packets of painkillers in less than one week. I'd keep an eye on her if I were you".

The titans let out a sigh of relief. They didn't know. Then Raven realised. "He thinks I'm addicted to painkillers".


It was late by the time Raven left the titans and went back to her own room. Richard had left his cell as well and promised to meet her in her room. After checking on the children who were both fast asleep. Raven made her way to her room passing maids who bowed to her. Entering her room she saw Richard was flicking through one of her books. "I gave you this book for your birthday", said Richard with out turning around. "It was over nine years ago and you still have it."

Raven nodded. "After Slade told me you were dead I was allowed to get some of my stuff from the tower. I couldn't leave that behind". Raven went over to a drawer and took something out of it. Richard couldn't see what it was. "I got this as well", whispered Raven handing Richard the object. To a normal person they would think it was a book but Richard knew it was something else. Opening it he saw there was two pictures in it. One was of him and Raven on the roof just relaxing before the next villain would attack Jump City. The other was a picture of Richards's parents.

This book was one of Richards prized possessions. He was sure it had been destroyed when the droids had went through the tower taking all it gadgets and machinery. "So you're a drug addict", smiled Richard.

"Apparently".

Raven went to lie on her bed. Yawning she snuggled into the bed. She was exhausted. Richard knew this so he went over and gave her a quick kiss before whispering, "I'm going". Raven moaned and grabbed his arm.

"We don't want a repeat of last time do we", whispered Richard. Raven reluctantly let go of his arm. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm so tired", she yawned. Richard just gave her another kiss and went to the window. Looking back at her sleeping he smiled. She looked so innocent. Richard shook his head. He had to get back to his cell.


The next morning Raven woke up refreshed but feeling a bit sick. Deciding to skip breakfast she made her way to the bathroom to take a shower. After getting out and dried she made her way to the dining hall. She wanted to make sure the kids were okay. Raven remembered one time when the kids thought it would be fun to have a food fight. Brother Blood had told them off. Akasha was still afraid of him after that. Akasha was sitting at the table after finishing her breakfast. She was now colouring in a picture. Alex was nowhere to be seen.

Raven sat down beside her daughter. Akasha was too engrossed in her picture to notice her mother. Suddenly feeling tired Raven leaned on her arms and stared at nothing. Looking up when she heard the door open she saw it was Slade. Groaning to herself she looked away. Slade walked over to her. "Raven. I have to talk to you about something."

"Slade. I'm not in the mood. Leave me alone", Raven growled. Slade wasn't one to take orders so he stood behind her.

"Well you're going to listen because it's about you. I'm wondering why you need so many painkillers".

Raven stood up. "It's none of you're business", she said before leaving the room. Feeling sick again Raven decided to go back to her room. After getting sick Raven went to the press where she kept all her medical supplies. Taking some stuff out of it she went back to the bathroom.

Five minutes later Raven gasped. She knew Slade was going to find out there plan soon. She was in serious trouble and she needed help.

Oh what is wrong with Raven, will the titans get caught and will I ever train my puppy. We'll never know. Review or do you want to see your favourites get killed. Its all in your hands. (Insert dramtic music)