I never expected to receive so many reviews/favs/follows, thank you all! Managed to stick to my weekly update (yay! will try to do this more)
Here's Chapter 8, enjoy!
Chapter 8
What happened? Why is it so foggy in here? Ouch, my head hurts.
Open your eyes, open your eyes, open your eyes.
What is that muffled noise? Are people talking? Where am I…?
Her green eyes opened ever so slightly, scanning her surroundings through the small slit of sight. She knew she was too late to save the children. Guilt had already consumed her gut.
Everything was so blurry; it didn't help that it was pitch black in this room. So dark and cold, yet she still heard the harsh whispers in the black air but saw no one.
"You need to give her the chance to explain, you can't jump to assumptions just because she's no longer the innocent Starfire we once knew. Four years can change a person Nightwing."
A female voice, perhaps it belonged to the small violet haired girl who appeared back at Mr Watson's house.
"That's not her. She would never change like that; she lived on Earth for seven years without changing, without using slang, without cutting her hair, without slanting her eyes so weirdly and evil like that!"
A different voice; definitely male, too rough and deep to be the girl. And'r matched the voice to the angry man clad in black instantly.
"Come on man, be serious. Ya can't blame the girl for cutting her hair in eleven years."
Another voice? Definitely not the green man; much too deep for him, what a strange accent, different entirely to the voices she heard up until now.
Open your eyes properly. Get it over with.
"Excuse me?"
Four pairs of hungry eyes turned to face the redheaded woman tied to the metal chair in the centre of the room.
It had been Nightwing's idea to keep everything in the dark of course, certain this woman wasn't the former Titan; he took extra precaution with leaking the location information.
Raven, the only woman amongst the shadowed capturers spoke first.
"We need to ask you a few questions. Forgive us for the restraints, some of us are…paranoid about your motives."
A white spotlight shone to life above the confused woman's head. Squinting her all green eyes, she looked around in uncertainty. She was once again lighting up the room with her colourful existence. Her red tousled hair swishing and swaying around her as her head scanned in interest at her surroundings; trying her best to identify something with the little light she had.
"P-Please, are the children safe?"
Her words spilled out of her mouth before her brain could even process anything. She fiddled with the new metal clasp bracelet that shackled her wrists together behind her back.
How odd, this metal should be easy to snap.
Raven's small voice spoke again "The children are safe, the police department are taking care of them right now. The body of their father was found on the helipad of the station, what can you tell us about that?"
And'r sighed, all her frustration expressed in the one simple sigh. There's no way the children will be protected from Slade by the police, these people made her break her promise to Mr Watson.
"Do you plan on attacking me again?"
Her eyes opened widely and then narrowed, her head tilting towards the voice. Annoyance coated her words.
Nightwing flinched at her cockiness.
"No."
And'r nodded. The sharp metal clang of the metal binding mechanism against the metal back of the chair echoed loudly as she repositioned herself best she could.
"The body of the man on top of the building is Mr Bill Watson; he helped me escape a disturbing procedure conducted by an evil man who runs an assassination team that steal weaponry and drugs and kill innocents. Watson was brought in by this man and forced to drug me because of his knowledge of pharmaceuticals as a teacher; he couldn't go through with it and risked his own life for mine. In the end I managed to get us both out, but Mr Watson was injured on the way."
She swallowed hard, trying her best to dissolve the tight lump that had emerged in her throat.
"But why you? Who are you to this man, what is your name?"
Raven's voice had softened in concern, hope sliding in.
"Agent And'r, assassin number 021…I worked for him."
Hearts dropped at those words. All hope was lost for their precious Starfire.
Nightwing slammed his fist down on the computer behind him, his teeth ground in anger. He exited the room before any more words could be spoken, Changeling following suit.
"Take her to the station; I've heard enough."
And'r bit her lip anxiously. She knew she was technically a criminal and she would happily answer for her crimes, but she couldn't help but feel like she deserved a second chance to explain things to these people.
Hearing the shuffle of feet exiting the room, she knew her last chance was coming quickly.
"W-Wait…please! Oh please y-you have to listen to me! Please!"
Her voice broke, overwhelming tears falling freely down her face. She leaned out of the chair as much as she could with her tight restraints.
The desperation in her voice was unavoidable to Raven and Cyborg, hearing this voice once before. All those years ago when Robin made the transition to Nightwing and made the decision to move to Bludhaven, that voice was hard to ignore through the walls at Titans Tower that night; unless you were Beast Boy who slept like a log.
The pain tore at their hearts now as it did then; their little sister was in pain.
"P-Please give me a chance to explain, I know what I did was wrong but you have to hear me out! I never meant for any of this to happen, I-I am so confused…I am so…lost."
She hung her head in defeat, gentle sobs vibrating the cold walls. Her petite figure had never looked smaller than in that chair under the cold harsh spotlight. The faint sound of water dripping drowned out by her pleading sobs.
Hunched over, shoulders shaking uncontrollably; this girl was a mess.
Exchanging glances to one another, Raven nodded to her robotic friend who nodded back. Both walked towards the girl, stepping into the watchful eye of the spotlight themselves.
A blue and silver robotic hand landed on And'r's shivering shoulder gently. She looked up, her tear-stained face wet from the tears and her cheeks puffy and red. She finally saw the face to the heavily accented voice, how friendly his face was; despite all of these mechanics attached to him.
"I-I truly did not know w-what I was doing was bad. I-I can give you a-any information you need about Slade, I-I mean it; a-anything! I just want a chance to make this right again, to have a life of my own."
Her sobbing overpowered her words, but one word in particular was easily heard from her rambles.
Raven and Cyborg looked at each other in disbelief, both unaware if what they just heard was real. Composing herself and hiding her shock with a low cough, Raven placed her hand on And'r's other free shoulder quickly; she leaned down level with And'r, her own violet eyes staring into those green leaking emeralds.
"Did you say…Slade?"
Nightwing exited the cave as quickly as he could. Every step he took grew angrier and louder.
How has this happened? How did Starfire die and someone take her body without him knowing? Without any of the Titans knowing?! Surely they would all know of her death, especially if it was here on earth; even if not Galfore would have for sure told them.
None of it made sense to him. He was blinded by the hope just like Raven said, blinded so much by the idea that she could be really here. That after four years of disappearance she'd be in the one city he would be in.
He stopped his angry pace, looking around he realised he had walked around the entire apartment without even realising. Sighing gently he wandered over to his chrome-finished kitchen and pulled himself onto one of the bar stools that stood at the granite top breakfast bar.
It was very rare that Nightwing lounged like this in his house when he was in costume; he couldn't help but find it funny. The press would have a field day with a snap of him right now; hunched over and swinging on a kitchen stool sulking. Would be a change compared to the usual viscous snaps they capture of him that portray him as a costumed thug.
Changeling entered the room cautiously, sitting himself on the opposing stool at the breakfast bar. He studied Nightwing careful not to stare, his fingers dug into his black hair, his head bowed on the granite top, tucked neatly in between his elbows.
"Dude, don't beat yourself up about it; you didn't know it would be an imposter. I can't blame you for thinking it was her, if it's not her…body…it's definitely a twin sister we didn't know about."
His nervous chuckle didn't go down well with Nightwing as he continued brooding. Scratching his temple in awkwardness, the confused Changeling pondered over changing the subject completely.
Nightwing ignored the green prankster completely; too wrapped up in his own thoughts.
How could I make such a big mistake? I made such a big deal about it at the party in front of everyone and I was…wrong.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. Can't go and face that woman in there, what is there to even be said? She's a criminal who looks exactly like my Starfire. If the no-kill policy didn't exist, that bitch would be dead for doing this.
Who even has the power to mirror people? Reincarnate maybe? Why hadn't I thought about that? Maybe Raven will know, could be magical; or could be medical?
Procedures…she did say something about being saved from a medical procedure. From who? Her boss? Argh, can't remember; my heads all over the place right now.
Think Dick. Something's missing in all of this, figure out where she got the body image and who is carrying out these weird procedures…why didn't I ask before? Guess I'm being a little irrational right now.
Snapped from his lucid thoughts, the kitchen door swung open revealing an anxious Raven.
"Her boss is Slade."
That woke him from his delusional downpour. The one name he didn't expect to hear in Bludhaven, the one name that could make his skin crawl, the one name he never thought he'd hear again.
Everyone knew of Robin's obsession with Slade back in the Titan days. He had been their first major nemesis, the only one that had really challenged them. Sure there were other criminals in Jump City, but most were petty bank robbers, escape artists are just tainted weirdo's looking to gain the Titan's attention.
But Slade; he was a different story. He wasn't out for the attention of five colourful costume-wearing teens; he was out for malicious destruction and eternal power; his intentions were bloodthirsty and violent; just like he was.
Robin, more than anyone struggled with dealing with Slade and bringing him to justice, almost losing himself in the process. He grew to hate himself for not being quick enough to stop him whilst he carried on his ruthless crimes in the city he swore to protect.
Eventually, Robin's obsession disintegrated when Slade's presence did. They never spoke about him, each having their own idea on what happened to him, most thought him dead. Robin thought differently, thinking he moved to Gotham under a new alias, Batman surprisingly told him of a new villain in town; going by the name Deathstroke who's ways of working resembled Slade's unusually well. After a brief few weeks searching in Gotham, they found nothing; Deathstroke never showed his face again, it was safe to assume he had disappeared too.
Quick to his feet, Nightwing jumped from the stool and stood tall looking over at Raven in disbelief.
How has this happened? How didn't I think of this…Slade definitely knows Starfire, he knows that it's her body…he reincarnated someone into her body. Why? To get at me? Why put her in Bludhaven four years after disappearing? Why now?
Raven nodded, as if in tuned with Nightwing's thoughts.
"This isn't a coincidence that this woman looks like Starfire, it is her.
Raven's monotone tone voiced what all four Titans were thinking. Cyborg stood behind Raven in the doorway and shook his head in sadness.
"She's really gone isn't she?"
Raven turned to face the tall saddened man, her eyes not giving up hope as she reached up and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We don't know that for sure. It's her body. You know her better than anyone Dick, I've sedated her for the time being; I know it's not really ethical but maybe a quick surveillance of her body…freckles, scars, birthmarks…anything distinctive like that you'd know. It's the only way to be sure."
If his eyes wouldn't have been masked, Dick would have shown how weak and in pain he was. He didn't want to do that, it seemed…wrong. Like identifying the dead body of his girlfriend, it seemed somewhat disrespectful.
He shook his head solemnly, "I can't. It wouldn't be right."
"Pull yourself together, you don't have a choice. This is the only way we can know for sure that it's her. She isn't responding to her name, or to any of us. There is no guarantee that it is her, but if we know it's her body we can start to piece things together."
He knew Raven was right. He would be saying the same if it was anyone else but her.
Changeling propped himself up on his elbows, joining in the conversation at last.
"Isn't it obvious it's her? Red hair, Green glowy eyes; it's not very often you see someone like Star walking around is it?"
Raven nodded, agreeing with her husband on some level. Starfire's alien appearance was definitely recognisable.
"Tamaranian people look very similar, there is a small chance one could have come to Earth in search for Starfire; we all know Galfore won't accept her death, maybe he sent someone here to look first-hand? It's a small chance I know, but we need to think about every little detail and possibly here."
"But not all Tamaranian's can fly and shoot starbolts?"
Changeling challenged his wife, who didn't respond.
Keeping his head bowed the entire time, Nightwing's thoughts battled with each other. He hated appearing so weak in front of everyone like this, he needed that control back; it was just so damn difficult when she was in his mind.
"Fine. I'll do it." He peeled himself from the wall he was subconsciously leaning on and walked past Raven and Cyborg, back into the hall and through the hidden door to the cave.
"Where do we go after this? If it is her I mean?"
Changeling chimed, standing from his stool and walking over to his wife, wrapping a strong arm around her petite waist.
She sighed gently, leaning ever so slightly into him. "We try figure out what happened to our Starfire."
Heart plunged deeply in his stomach, Nightwing continued on his slow-paced walk to the cave. Butterflies circled the pit of his uneven stomach, fluttering nervously, dancing wildly. He stopped. Reaching the hidden door in the wall, he placed his hand on the opposite wall for support. He turned his head, checking carefully that his teammates did not see his weakening demeanour.
Watching the door close slowly on his friends in the kitchen he sighed gently.
No time to be weak. What would Bruce say?
His hand balled into a fist quickly at the thought of his adoptive and unsupportive father. Bruce was never a warm and colourful character, nothing like Starfire; but in his old age the coldness in Bruce's heart seemed to grow; despite Selina's best efforts.
Chewing on his bottom lip roughly, he battled with the thoughts in his head. He never imagined he would be in this situation right now, two hours ago he thought he would be going to sleep with Starfire in his arms tonight yet here he was about to examine her body like she was a dead vigilante and he was the detective.
He let his hand fall from the wall and back down to his sides, inhaled deeply and entered through the door with caution.
There she was; a puddle of auburn mess on the damp stone floor, still under the eye of the spotlight; curled up into a small bundle, just how she slept when she was frightened of the lightning back at the tower.
Her face was hidden under straight red tresses, but her tanned glow was still peeking through the gaps. He hadn't realised he had stopped walking, hadn't realised he was stood staring at her.
Composing himself, he walked closer to her; squatting down beside her sleeping form. He reached a hand out towards her; it hesitated and shook above her head.
Do it goddammit. You have to know it's her.
He ran his fingers through her hair slightly, scraping it back from her face. Her petite face was sleeping so peacefully, inhaling and exhaling slowly. He gasped slightly at her touch; she was so…soft…so much like his precious Starfire. The smell of sweetened nectarines that so usually wafted around her oozed from her skin, surely a reincarnated body wouldn't smell so sweet?
Swallowing deeply, his fingers began to stroke her cheek gently of their own accord. Nightwing wasn't sure what was happening at this moment; but he knew he had most certainly lost control. The way she did this to him every time was beyond annoying, but at the same time made him uncontrollably happy.
He felt the wetness rise in his fabricated mask, but he made no attempt to get rid of the tears.
God, I'm so weak. Just look at her, she looks like an angel.
His gentle stroking continued as he scanned her body with his damp, blurred eyes. He watched for minutes, just enjoying looking at her after so many years. Her hair, her eyes, the glow of her skin, the freckles on her nose, the blood stains on her gown.
That hit him like a bullet; he had forgotten all about that. She looks so innocent, she couldn't have committed the crime of killing; not her.
His trembling hands moved from her cheek to the hem of the hospital gown.
Why is she wearing this? Must get Cyborg to check all hospital records in Bludhaven.
He remembered Raven's words, the reason he was actually here.
Scars…birthmarks…freckles.
He knew every single one, the small group of freckles on her nose that hardly anybody had noticed, the long scar that lived on the inside of her left leg from her disturbing kidnap and torture by the sadistic Psions.
Anger began to consume him at the thought. This wasn't right to be doing this; that scar was her secret, her weakness; and here he was exposing it…that is if it was even her.
He slowly began lifting up the hem of gown, pulling her left leg down from her right in its curled position. He carefully moved her right leg out of the way, noticing a path of bruises following up to her groin. He frowned as he continued his search; pulling up the gown four inches above her knees he was able to see the end of it.
There it was; that symbolic scar. The one she hated and the one he loved. He loved that about her; how strong she was, no one would even begin to think what she had been through because she was always so happy. Nightwing had told her when they had begun dating that she should wear the scar with honour and not be ashamed of it. She was a warrior, and that scar was proof of that.
It's really her.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Turning his head in surprise, he saw the newly awakened girl in front of him. Eyes glowing in fury, teeth bared.
"W-Wait a second, I was just-"
"Get your hands off of me."
She had him pinned in a second, her strength overpowering him.
Nightwing struggled underneath her grip, his masked eyes staring up at her green orbs, he growled fiercely; his tone changing to that of anger and frustration.
"Hey! You just wait a second I was-"
Too late. Knuckles bared above him, And'r lunged her fist into his face; his head bouncing off the stone floor.
"No! You wait a second, I have tried to explain to you what is happening and you drug me…twice!"
She bared her fist again, ready for a second lunge. Nightwing was faster this time, prepared.
He grabbed her wrist and pulled it out the right, knocking her balance slightly; he took his opportunity and slid out from beneath her; pinning her instead. He knew his strength was no match for her, but he knew her pressure points to keep her restrained.
He kept his grip on her wrist held down to the floor tightly, his other and hand around her neck loosely; index finger pressed into the back of her ear where her Tamaranian weakness lived.
She stared up at him in shock, her eyes still glowing in anger.
"You're making this worse on yourself. I told you before; I won't hesitate to hand you over the police."
She didn't know he was bluffing, she didn't know that in his head; Nightwing had decided minutes ago that he wasn't letting her go anywhere.
She sighed in defeat, the glow in her eyes twinkling until they faded completely back to her usual Green pupils and iris.
"I do not care any longer, I am tired of this. Take me to the police; I have failed my mission, I have failed the children."
Nightwing watched as she calmed and saddened all at once, her desire to hurt him completely diminished. Her head tilted to the side as the floor became her comfort.
"Is it really you?"
She turned her head back up to him in interest.
"What? You said those words to me before…on the rooftop. Who is it you think I am?"
"How did you get that scar? How can you shoot starbolts if you're not her?"
His words were sprinting out of his mouth. She looked at his questioning face, confusion coursing through her veins.
"Star-bolts? You mean my green strikes? My master taught me how to use them. I think that is why he didn't want me to be a civilian, I have seen them on the streets below…they do not possess the strikes like I do…I am different."
Her head tilted again to the floor in sadness. Nightwing felt a pang of déjà vu; it was like meeting Starfire all over again; when she first landed on Earth eleven years ago.
"H-How do you have her body? My Starfire, how did you get her body? Did your master give it to you? How did you get it?!"
Nightwing felt the anger rise in him as he said the words.
Her body but not her, her body but not her.
He studied her as she thought how to answer his question; it really looked as though she had no idea what he was talking about. The way her nose scrunched slightly when in thought, it was unavoidable that these were all Starfire traits.
He noticed something he hadn't seen before about her face, her left eye was bruised slightly; there were bruises on her neck that certainly wasn't caused by him and her lips were chapped and swollen.
Nightwing sighed quietly, leaning up and getting up from her. He sat on the floor beside her, staring at the dark ceiling above them.
He heard her shuffle, sitting herself upright just like he had. Silence swallowed the air, deathly silence. The buzz of the spotlight was the only thing either of them listened to.
Time to be rational Nightwing; start acting like the leader again, everyone's counting on you.
"Will you co-operate with us. With my team and I. We are superheroes, the Titans to be precise. You look familiar to us all, that is why we reacted so irrationally."
And'r studied the man next to her. His black suit shiny under the light, his posture slightly hunched over, legs folder; arms around his knees.
"I-I do not want any more people to be harmed by my masters wrath. I would prefer if you let me leave now, so I can correct my mistakes."
He didn't turn to face her as he spoke, trying his hardest not to look at the corpse of his lost girlfriend.
"If you work for Slade, why are you so eager to help people?"
His question shocked her.
"I believe I am trying to break the bond with Slade, you know of him?"
Nightwing nodded. "He was an enemy of ours for a lot of years. He hurt a lot of people."
She nodded slowly, taking in all the information from him.
"He will be looking for me."
Her voice was so full of pain, it pulled on his heartstrings. He shrugged it off the best he could and nodded. There was no time for small talk with a corpse, not when a battle was coming.
"As I thought, you will stay with us until then. He will come looking for you, and find us instead. You need to relay all information to us about him, we will know if you are lying; our teammate Raven has psychic abilities and will be able to read your mind. Don't try to fool us, any microphones or cameras or anything he has on you, we will find it."
With that he exited the room, leaving And'r alone and confused once again.
"Well?"
All three titans turned to look at him as he entered the kitchen, Raven in particular seemed more eager; not that he hadn't expected it, Starfire was not only her sister but her best friend.
"Every scar and mark is there. It is without a doubt, her body."
Raven and Changeling looked down at the floor in sadness, leaning on to one another for support, Cyborg sighed placing his large hand over his head.
"She has agreed to cooperate with us. I suggested you try reading her mind again Raven."
Raven nodded slowly.
"I tried before, her mind is…blank. There is nothing there; it's almost as if it's being blocked. Did she say anything about Slade?"
Nightwing wandered round the other side of the kitchen island and leaned against the fridge, arms folded across his chest.
"She says he's going to come looking for her."
Cyborg took a step forward to the circle formed between the four and looked at Raven.
"You said something about a block? Do you think it could be ya know…magic or something?"
Raven nodded. "I thought about that too. As far as I'm aware Slade has no knowledge about magic…especially reincarnation magic. Only the most powerful of beings are capable of that; not even I can bring back the dead."
Nightwing suddenly zapped to life.
"I know of someone brought back from the dead. Jason."
All Titans turned to look at him.
Raven shook her head.
"No Dick, I'll admit there are similarities between the two. But Jason came back bitter and twisted. That woman in there has no bitter bone in her body; she has all the qualities of Starfire, but no memories. There is magic that can erase memories yes, but again I don't believe Slade would be capable of such dark magic. He is only human after all."
Changeling loosened his hold on his wife and stepped closer to Cyborg.
"I don't get it. Why now? Why bring her body here now? Surely he knows this is your turf Wings…it's almost as if he planned it."
Cyborg nodded in agreement.
"Gar's right. It all seems a little too coincidental to me. Ya'll know what Slade's like, he'd rather hurt someone emotionally than physically; he's a twisted dude."
Nightwing nodded.
"We all have our suspicions, we have bases to explore. Cyborg I want you to visit the hospital, see if there's any record of her anywhere. Changeling I want you and Raven to find out what dark magic is used for reincarnation and erased memory and who can use it; also try reading her mind again. I'm going to look into the Lazarus Pit and Ra's al Ghul, I know the possibility is unlikely but it's best to cover all ground. I'm also going to hack Batman's computer for Intel on Deathstroke. I have a feeling there's something he hasn't told me."
Raven looked over at Nightwing in worry. An uneasy aura had clung to her since Nightwing departed the cave, something big was coming.
"I'm going to try connecting with her again. She seems a little more relaxed now."
Nightwing nodded, standing up straight.
"Alright, everyone have their communicators on them at all times. If anyone learns any new Intel, do not hesitate to report."
Cyborg exited the apartment first and headed towards the hospital. Nightwing headed to his room, through the other hidden door leading to the computer area of the cave. Funny how suddenly convenient it was to have two caves, damn Batman and his inability to be wrong.
Raven closed her eyes slowly and created a portal leading back to her home. She looked over at her husband and smiled.
"You head back, I've highlighted the relevant books on the bookshelf; bring them back here and we'll get reading."
Changeling nodded and kissed his wife on the cheek gently before walking through the portal.
"Be careful."
Green on violet once again.
She stayed kneeled on the cold damp floor, like a lost little kitten. Raven knelt in front of her, watching her reactions slowly.
"It won't hurt. You have to be reasonable with us, by law you are a criminal but we're trying to help you out of this. I need you to let me in."
Green confusion.
"Why? Why do you suddenly want to help me?"
Raven sighed.
"We have a common enemy. Now relax."
Her pale hands hovered over her temples, moving in slow circles.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"
Raven exhaled, eyes closed peacefully as she began to route through the confused mind of the woman before her.
As if my force, a storyboard of events reeled through Raven's eyes. Almost like a home-movie, everything that was once blurred became clear. Masked faces; six of them to be precise surrounded the scared redhead. Guns pointed at her, the point of view switched to the redhead's eyes.
The men were sneering and laughing at her, licking their lips, making rude gestured. No audio, but Raven could lip-read good enough to make out the word 'fight' that formed on their lips.
The scenery changed, Raven was no longer in the redhead's eyes but just an onlooker. Chained to wall in front of her, blood dripping down her naked body was the girl. She was shaking her head, tears pouring from her glowing eyes; her body thumping rapidly against the metal wall in defiance. A small weedy man with a collection of syringes stood next to her watching, waiting to puncture her skin.
Raven was glad for the silence. This scene in front of her broke her heart, this girl had tried so hard to supress these memories yet here she was opening up new wounds. It hurt her, but she knew she had to continue.
The scene changed again, this time the girl was wearing black tight shorts and black sports bra. There were monitor patches stuck to her arms and legs as she swerved hits from robotic entities firing explosives and darts at her. The room was so white, it was almost blinding. Raven followed the wires attached to the girl to a small compartment at the back of the room. Two people were hidden behind tinted glass, watching the girl closely she realised what was happening; she was being monitored, trained to kill these droids like an animal.
Raven blinked, her surroundings had changed again, back to the white procedure room. Her eyes now belonged to the redheads once again; the doctor with the menacing smile was here again; excited to inject her. He had more tools than last time, a scalpel and some scissors in his hand. A searing pain erupted in the left side of Raven's brain suddenly; she yelped and tried to reach up the pain but was stopped back the metal shacked around her wrists.
She could hear sound this time; she could hear the clang of metal tools, the voice of the doctor.
"You be a good little bitch and let me get to that chip in your tiny useless brain okay Starfire?"
He laughed, coming closer with the scissors snapping in a threating way in his fingers. Raven screamed as loud as she could and closed her eyes.
Open, open, open! It was just a memory, pull yourself together!
Violet upon Green.
Raven bolted out of the room as fast as she could, flying down the corridor to Dick's room. She charged through the door studying the room for the hidden door to the cave in a panic.
"Nightwing! Dick! It's her…it's her…I have answers…I have everything we need to know!"
Nightwing emerged from the cloaked doorway, finding a frantic Raven and bedroom accessories flying around her. He ran towards her, holding her forearms as he shook lightly. The bedside table hovered from the ground, the bedside lamp flying through the air; followed by an array of socks and belts.
"What? What do you know?"
Both snapped out of their engrossed conversation as an explosion of metal and brick crashed through the bedroom wall suddenly, brick and wood panelling collided through the dusty clouds of destruction; Nightwing reacted instantly, pushing Raven down the ground and planking his body on top of hers for protection.
Through the dirt and dust, three figures were made out. All with elongated arms, all wearing black. Nightwing jumped up quickly, but was knocked down instantly by a laser beam extended from the weaponry of the long limbed newcomers.
Raven flew up next, chanting her famous words, she produced a black shield between herself and Nightwing and the figures; checking to see Nightwing stand up she pushed the shield back, using it as a weapon and caused all three figures to be knocked from their feet. Nightwing was next to her in a second, his costume torn slightly at the chest, he growled in frustration and headed towards the newly formed hole in his wall.
Raven flew after him, realising his destination. More figures were in the house, blowing up his furniture; bursting through his walls.
He should have seen this coming; he didn't expect Slade to come looking so soon. His war cry erupted throughout the apartment as he dived fist first into the group of figures; seeing clearly now he recognised them; Slade's robotic henchmen.
No need to hold back, not human.
They look different, stronger. All black, no gold like his mask, different weapons too. Laser stung like a bitch; avoid that.
Punching his way through the androids, he hadn't noticed the arrival of Changeling until the green lion tore his way through the gang of robots behind him.
He turned round to nod thanks to him, seeing Raven struggling with two henchmen in his demolished hall he ran to help. Grabbing the shoulders of the henchman on Raven's left side he slammed him down into he ground as hard as he could as Raven took out the right one with her black razor sharp disks.
Another explosion sounded off, his ears ringing with the sonic sound. The rumble from the sound rocked the ground and he stirred slightly, his balance swayed as he leaned against the wall for support, looking over for the cause of the sound. The static blue of Cyborg's sonic cannon was enough reassurance for him.
The familiar sting of the red razor hit him in his shoulder suddenly, knocking him down to the ground. He winced, placing his hand over the new wound and tried standing to his feet. The henchmen were faster, kicking his ribs as they blasted their way through the hidden door in the hall.
No no no, you can't have her. Raven said it's her, I can't lose her again. I won't!
Another brute kick to the ribs, he caught a glimpse of his friends fighting off the many henchmen that now surrounded them. Punching his way out of the mass of metal bodies that now weighed heavily on top of him he growled loudly, smashing heads together, pulling out electronic intestines; he was a mad man.
He looked over to the doorway, now completely blown through.
Put up a fight Star. Don't let them win.
A blow to his jaw knocked him from his worried gaze. He growled, attacking the robot that had just stolen a punch.
A bright green light erupted from the hole in the wall, henchmen thrown back out of the room. He smiled slightly, before running over to help; Cyborg assisting him within seconds.
Neither needed to speak a word to one another, that look was enough. Cyborg didn't need too much convincing prior to Raven's evidence; he knew his little sister when he saw her.
The room was covered in dust and smoke from the debris, two green eyes glowing in the midst of it all.
She wasn't alone.
He was there, holding her by the neck.
That familiar half-faced black and gold mask, his body armour had changed considerably; he looked wider, much more powerful, and sturdier on his feet. Weapons lined his belt, handguns, grenades, sticky bombs.
The smoke began to clear; Nightwing had his Escrima sticks at the ready, Cyborg his sonic cannon ready and loaded; both aimed at Slade.
"You little bitch; you think you can run from me? Think you can disobey me? I control you fool; I know your .move."
Cyborg blasted first, Slade's threatening words being his trigger. Jumping out of the way of the blue cannon, Slade flew back dragging Starfire with him; his hands tightening around her neck.
"Well well well Titans, how many years has it been? Missed me?"
"Let go of her right now!" Nightwing stepped closer to him, Cyborg following behind.
"I see you've met agent And'r, quite a specimen isn't she? Although…she looks oddly familiar to me. How about you Robin? Seen her before?"
He clutched Starfire's cheeks in his hand, his finger nails drawing blood from her cheek he turned her to face the two men. Her glowing eyes slightly dim as she looked down in defeat, neither Titan could understand why; Starfire could easily escape Slade's grip.
Slade chuckled slightly.
"Not the girl you remember is she? Quite an improvement if I do say so myself."
A growl erupted up Nightwing's throat slowly, his fist tightened, the sweat on his forehead dripping with stress.
"You bastard. I'll kill you for this. I'll fucking kill you!"
"There we go, there's the deadly little Robin I so lovingly adore! Swearing too?! My my my, we have grown up."
His callous chuckle echoed in the broken room, his free hand grasped a small silver dagger.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to teach my offspring a little lesson in respect."
His hand barely hovered over Starfire's stomach before quickly plunging itself deeply into her. She cried out in pain, the glow of her eyes weakening in pain.
"NO!"
Both Nightwing and Cyborg charged at the two through the smoke, only realising their disappearance when they reached the spot they once stood.
AN - For those confused about the characters mentioned in this chapter:
Jason - Jason Todd, the second Robin who was killed by the Joker in the comics and was resurrected and returned not so friendly.
Deathstroke - Slade's alias in the comics.
If you're even more confused by my brief description, Google it!
