Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. There is also a *trigger warning* for this chapter. It isn't as bad as the first one, but still needed to be put up.
Chapter 8: Multiple Monsters (Part 1)
"Robin, what shall the actioning be?" Starfire asked him, worried.
"We... we have to do what he said," Robin responded defeatedly, his words meant for the whole team.
"What?! We can't let him push us around!" Cyborg shouted.
"You heard him, Cy. All those innocent people... we have to do it," Robin told him.
"And those people might not be the only ones he hurts if he doesn't get his way. If he got a hold of Raven-" Beast Boy's tone was worried, but Raven cut him off.
"I am the least of your problems. I am not a child and do not need to be treated as such. I can protect myself." Her tone was snippy and her words struck him harshly. She noticed such pain, but would be unable to make the green boy feel better in front of the rest of their friends. "I'll call Titans East and have them look over the courthouse. If something goes wrong with Slade, they might be able to spare the lives of those men and women," Robin said. "Titans, move out."
Raven's emotions were going crazy. From being scared by Slade, feeling bad for hurting Beast Boy, and having to suppress such emotions, she was feeling very triggered, and the urge to cut was very strong. She knew that she would have to endure battle and all of the necessities that came with it before she could indulge in her... habit, but she felt like she was going to explode if she was unable to subside such weight—at least a small portion of it.
The Titans "moved out" very quickly. Raven knew she wouldn't be alone in the skies; Starfire and Beast Boy would be near her as they always were. Still, she was able to take out a tool from a hidden compartment in one of the red jewels of her belt. She tapped the ruby in the middle in four places very quickly and it slid open. She took from it a random, broken Monster tab from her collection. She wished she could just sit and rub it on her fingers before she used it. She wished she could sit and concentrate fully on what she wanted to do, where she wanted to "hurt" herself the most. Wanting this slowness, this thoughtfulness put into her self harm was different from the last time she underwent such action, but every situation, every trigger is different, with different pains, different yearnings, different wants.
Raven, despite her wanting, was in a hurry. She took the broken tab and put it in the palm of her hand. As she flew out of the tower and into the sky, she squeezed the sharp metal into her hand as hard as she could. It wasn't the same kind of pain she wanted, but it was better than nothing. The closer they all got to the warehouse, the more Raven squeezed, pushing the tool farther into her skin. She kept her cloak wrapped around her so the team would not be able to see the hidden events take place. Once she felt a fine amount of blood encase her hand, she used her magic to put the tab away. If asked, she would say the wound was from the battle they were just about to undergo.
The team arrived at the warehouse, similar to the one they previously had encountered Slade in, right on time. Raven felt blood drip from the middle of her palm as it made its way to the center of her middle finger. She had put the tab away right before she landed to meet her friends in front of the large metal doors. With one of her hands bleeding, she was forced to put the hood of her cloak down with one hand, something she never did. No one seemed to notice. No one except the green boy, who looked at her quite perplexed. Raven looked at him for a very short time, quite annoyed at first, but soon remembered the harsh words she had spoken to him just thirty or so minutes prior. This remembrance caused her to look away.
The team now looked at one another with worry upon their faces. Robin looked around at them all, then nodded. He opened the door and led the way. The warehouse, unlike the other, was not lit by the moonlight (as it was no longer full), making it very hard to see. Cyborg's flashlight and the glow of Starfire's hand were needed. After taking about seven or eight steps into the building, Beast Boy stopped abruptly.
"I hear him," he whispered.
"Very good, Beast Boy. I see your senses have been more sharply tuned," a voice came from a few feet in front of them. Cyborg lifted his flashlight higher and found the owner of the voice sitting on one of many tall steel shelves. Robin narrowed his eyes behind his mask and tried to take a step forward. Starfire held out her free arm to stop him.
"We are now here. Shall you release the people of the house of court?" Starfire asked innocently. They could almost feel him smirk behind his metal mask.
"Not quite yet, my precious star." At this, Robin became greatly heated with anger.
"What in the hell did we come here for, then!" Robin shouted.
"Patience, Robin. I need you for a certain... demonstration."
"What... kind of demonstration?" Cyborg asked, seriously. Slade now grinned a toothy smile behind his mask (if such an action is possible since his last encounter with Trigon).
"I am so glad you asked." With that, Slade jumped off the shelf dramatically, landing on his feet with his knees close to the ground. The team readied themselves for battle. With a wave of Slade's hand, Cyborg was thrown into a metal wall across the way.
"Titans! Go!" Robin shouted. Cyborg hurried upright and brushed himself off.
"Yo, man! What gives?!" he shouted to no one in particular as he caught Starfire who was being thrown next to him. As Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven "brought the rain," Robin made his way over to the device controlling the bombs back at the courthouse. Slade was shielding himself from the blows of the three other teens when he caught the boy wonder. Slade moved his hand, and with the turn of a wrist, Robin's body was forced into a painful and embarrassing dance.
"Not so fast, Robin," Slade said manically. It took Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg a few moments to understand that Robin no longer had control of his own body. Starfire, who was in the air with Raven, now flew down to punch Slade. He held up his other hand, stopping the red-haired alien with her fist inches from his face.
"Now, now, Starfire. I thought you might want to dance with your boyfriend," Slade said. He moved his wrist a few more times, forcing her feet to the ground, moving them toward Robin. After more than enough staring, the empath used her magic to pick up a nearby metal shelf as Cyborg aimed his canon.
"Tisk, tisk." Slade nodded his head side to side. With his eye, it seemed, he froze them both. "You must see them dance." Robin was now so close to Starfire it was possible for her to feel his breath. They all let out grunts of struggle. Robin's hands were forced on Starfire's waist, and the two were thrown around in the air together, making Robin, who wasn't as used to flying, woozy. They were then halted in the air. Robin's hands slowly moved from the bare stomach of the tall girl up to her rib caged, and crept up higher. He fought with all his might to gain control of his body once again, but was failing miserably. If it was possible, Starfire would make herself cry. Robin's hands were now right under her breasts when they all heard a crack.
"NO!" Slade shouted out in fury, losing concentration and the control over the bodies of the four teens. He had completely forgotten about Beast Boy, who during such events turned into a small rat and sought out the device controlling the bombs. Upon finding it, he turned into a brown (well... green) bear and stepped on it.
The other four were dazed, and felt a tingling sensation as they were now in full control of their actions. Robin, Raven, and Starfire were dropped from flying against their will, but managed to clumsily land on their feet. Well enough on their feet, that is. Beast Boy now returned to his human form, giving a large, toothy grin.
"Admit it dude," he said to Slade, "we totally beat you!" Slade now lifted an arm and gained control of the green body. He threw Beast Boy from the ceiling, to the floor, to one wall, to the other. When the rest of the Titans tried to stop him, he used his other hand to silence their bodies of movement. Slade now played with him as if the changeling was a puppet—much harsher than with Robin. He made Beast Boy dance in such a way that his right leg was twisted around. All cringed as they heard his bones break while Slade laughed in amusement. Slade then did the same with Beast Boy's left arm, causing the same reaction.
Raven could not take very much more pain. Physically, she was, of course, beat, but emotionally, she was going mad. Seeing everyone around her helpless as Beast Boy seemed to be dying inside as she was. The empath tried to get into Nevermore, in hopes that she would find the tool in helping them all out of their situation. Her mind, however was blocked. Slade seemed to sense her trying to flee. He now brought Raven closer to him. Beast Boy watched in terror with the rest of his team. He, however, was limp, crippled on the ground, unable to move. Raven was now in front of Slade, who fiercely ripped off her cloak. As the other three were behind her, helpless, while Beast Boy, also helpless, was in front of her. Raven could now see the blood on her hand, which, at this point was smeared and dried.
"Oh, yes," Slade said pervertedly, overlooking her hand, "this all shall do... quite nicely." His hand moved to Raven's waist. Beast Boy's eyes grew largely wild. He felt his blood speed faster through his veins as it ran cold, but his face grew very hot. His muscles grew to a massive, hairy size. He struggled in agony, causing Slade to turn around. The Beast was now ready to roam free.
Sorry that this part is really long! The next one is really short (if you cannot tell, I have length problems :/) Hoped you liked it, though! Thank you Gweneire for helping me! Leave a review!
