Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or Batman.
The man stood at the railing on the cabin's porch, arms folded before him, wearing only a black muscle shirt, gray lounge pants, and boots. Slade's crystal eye gazed dully out at the doe and fawn stepping daintily through the forest below. His eye flitted to watch as two blue birds flew through the branches of a tree nearby, chattering to one another in a language only they understood. He glanced up as a squirrel that, having worked up enough courage, leapt off of the roof of the porch, and latched onto the branch of the tree closest to him before scurrying down it to run through the old leaves of the forest floor. Slade took a deep breath, taking in all of the life and energy of the forest around him. He'd been up for hours, standing there, taking everything in, watching as the creatures emerged to begin their new day. He sighed. Now it was his turn, and for once, he was not looking forward to it. He turned to the screen door and walked back in, as if a prisoner coming in from yard time to return to his cell.
In sharp contrast to the outside world, the cabin had become quiet. Too quiet, as far as Slade was concerned. His boots marched slowly across the kitchen floor to the refrigerator. He frowned, blinking, and pulled open the door to the fridge, and his eye fell upon the long row of glass vials on the top shelf. He let out a sigh and reaching out with his right hand, grasped the vial farthest to the right before pulling it back . He gazed at the vial's label as the Latin words Crotalus adamanteus* seemed to glare accusingly back at him from the side of it. He blinked, turned, and placed it on the counter beside the syringe and sizeable needle already there before walking back to his room.
He stood, staring at his room door for a moment longer. The cabin seemed to hold its breath, as if to wait for his next move. His shoulders slumped as he sighed and opening the door, he gazed sadly in at what seemed to be the very source of the house's dull, lifeless state of being. Slade let his blue eye fall upon the bundle lying curled up and shaking in the middle of his bed.
Slashera whimpered, pulling the three layers of plaid blanket, wool blanket, and deer skin closer to her as she heard the door open. The child lay on her side on the bed, her eyes squint shut, sweating despite the chills that had been plaguing her earlier. She let two tears race down her cheeks as she heard Slade march over and tucked her face deeper into the blankets as she felt the bed dip when he sat.
Slade gazed at her morosely and leaning over with one arm rubbed a cheek with his palm, "Little Slash? Are you awake?" he murmured in a kind voice. She whimpered and bit her lip before forcing her eyes open to gaze at him. He smiled weakly at her, trying in vain to put up an optimistic front to combat the despair in her eyes, "It's time." She shook her head, her matted and knotted hair moving against the blankets, "No. . . no more . . . please, Father Slade. . ." She choked out a sob, shaking, "Please . . . not anymore. . ."she whispered. He blinked, and brushed her tears away before whispering, "I know you don't want to, Little Slash. . ." He paused. I wouldn't like it either to be completely honest. . . "But it has to be done," he whispered finally.
Leaning forward, he wrapped his two large arms around her slowly and drew her closer to him. Maneuvering her as if she were a porcelain doll, he came to cradle her like a baby in his arms, still wrapped up in the three blankets and gazing up at him with pleading black eyes. In that moment, a small part of Slade wanted to just put her back on the bed. To just hold her and try to ease her pain. But sadly, Slade knew that no matter how much he willed it to, that wouldn't help her at all. So. . . "This is the last time, Little Slash. I promise." he whispered, and leaning her up, pressed his warm lips to her sweaty forehead.
He moved his legs with a grunt as he got up from the bed, and slowly moved out of the room and into the hallway, his eye never leaving her face, "After this, we won't have to do it anymore. Alright?" "But why do we have to do it this time?" she whimpered, her eyes close to tears. He stopped walking and gazed down at her sadly, now beside the bare table in the kitchen. She whimpered once more, as she was sat on her butt in the middle of the table. He gradually lowered the hand that was around her back until she lay flat against the table's surface. Turning to her legs, he loosened the blankets a bit and slowly moved her legs to be stretched out on the table, feeling her trembling body even through all three. He looked at her face, his eye resting on her tear filled eyes, "Because, Slashera . . . we need to do this correctly. Only then. . ." he fully opened the blankets and she jumped a bit at the sudden rush of air that hit her. He gazing sadly down at the swollen calf muscle on her left leg, with the two large holes surrounded by red skin marring the flesh there before continuing, "Can you really be better."
Unable to look at them for very long, he turned to her head and rubbed her forehead. Smiling as best he could, the man tried to reassure the child, "Trust me, Little Slash. This is the last time . . . that's all . . . then you'll feel tons better, alright?" he whispered. The despair in her gaze remained, but she nodded. Turning, he moved to the counter.
Slade frowned, allowing the anti-venom in the vial to flow into the syringe's cavity, watching as it swirled. For three days, he'd been administering it to Slashera. Despite the aid it provided, it was decidedly NOT a fun task for either one. But at least this was the last one, so . . . turning to her, he moved to the table, eyes on the syringe, focusing on only one thing. Just one more time. That's it. This one more time and we're done. Clinging to that thought was this was any easier for him. Suddenly a whimper caught his attention. And his eye lifted up to the child's face. As if he'd been shot, Slade seized up with those frightened eyes gazing back at him. . .
The boy shook, blood all over his left leg as he sat restrained by leather cuffs in the steel chair, eyes alight with fear at the large amount of yellow chemicals in the syringe being held before him. His crystal blue eyes flitted to the needle, every bit of his being shaking with anticipation and fear at the same time. His bare chest heaved with the pain he'd been experiencing in the past hour, now coupled with this new fear. "What is that thing?" he asked in Russian.
And grit his teeth, as a voice far off laughed at him, "Why, just a little experiment, Number 784. But you would know ALL about that, now wouldn't you? What with our corrupt system and all. . ." The syringe moved closer to the boy. Who jerked in his restraints with a snarl, his eyes alight with renewed anger at the snide remark, "DON'T YOU DARE INJECT THAT INTO ME!" he roared.
As the needle got ever closer. . . "THIS IS INHUMANE! AND IF YOU DO THIS, I'LL NEVER SHUT UP! NOT UNTIL THEY ALL TURN AGAINST YOU! YOU MONSTERS!" he threatened. A pale hand reached out and gripped his jaw. "Then perhaps we may need to rip out your tongue when we are finished . . . we would say that squirming intensifies the pain and therefore, advise you against it, but . . . well, I honestly don't care." The syringe was lowered to the boy's thigh, where the red star with the small golden star, hammer, and sickle inside was sewn into his flesh, the numbers 7, 8, and 4 underneath it embroidered into his skin . . . the boy began to writhe and jerk, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" he roared, pulling angrily at the restraints that wouldn't budge, tears flying down his face despite the rage he portrayed. "YOU'LL ALL PAY!" the needle slammed into his body. He reared his head back in a scream as the fluid was forced into him.
"F-Father Slade?" Slashera's worried whimper brought Slade crashing back down to reality. He blinked, his blue eye focusing back on her form on the table. The girl gazed in worry back at him, "Father Slade, are you . . . are you alright?" she whispered. He smiled softly at her, "Yes, Little Slash. Thank you for asking . . . now. . ." he moved over and rubbed her forehead once more, moving the needle slowly down to the bite on her leg. "Calm down, alright? This'll be over in a minute. Remember, this is the last time. Right?" She nodded slowly, "Yes sir." "Now be a brave girl for me, okay?" he murmured, and the needle pricked her skin. The girl's fists clenched, as did her jaw, but other than that she remained relaxed. "GOOD girl," he praised, smiling at her, his eye on hers as his hand slowly pushed the anti-venom into her, "I'm so proud of you," he whispered. And they were done.
He pulled out the needle, and moving to stand beside the table, wrapped his warm hands around her, holding her tight to him, "I'm so, so proud of you, my Little Slashera." She snuggled into his embrace wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes fluttering closed as she heaved a sigh.
Hours later found Slade rocking her on the porch, her back in the three blankets, having eaten some grits and a bit of fish after the injection. Her eyes were half lidded as he rocked her back and forth, her legs draped over his left arm with her head resting between his right arm and his chest as the movement lulled her to sleep. Slade heaved a deep sigh, gazing out at the forest beyond. And as she snuggled deeper against him and a hand reached out to rest on his chest, Slade let his mind drift to the past three weeks, blinking as he gazed out at the forest.
Slashera had been progressing at an incredible rate. And not just in her physical fitness. The child had fully adapted to fishing, and would kill the fish she got before Slade could so much as touch the hook! Slade smiled. Just five days ago, she'd reeled in the fish all by herself, which was something Slade had been helping her with up until that time, unhooked it, and snapped its neck almost as effortlessly as the man would have itself. Slade couldn't help it. He'd just wrapped his arms around her right then and there, he was so proud. Yes, everything had been going perfectly according to plan, if not better. Slade's smile instantly fell into a frown as one thought rushed back to the forefront of his mind. The one thought that had been dominating his thoughts for the past three days: She shouldn't have gotten bitten.
Slashera leapt over the final hurdle. Slade couldn't help but smile. She was decidedly ready for the next part of the training. Running to the next hurdle she spread out her arms and smiled as she took off, sailing high over the hurdle with a foot to spare. He watched with pride as her muscles in her legs ground perfectly together, carrying the strong body over the jump. To land perfectly on the other side . . . her scream ripped through the air before she crumpled to the earth, a loud rattle the only thing accompanying the terrifying sound. That was all Slade needed to know. He was at her side the next second, staring at the girl curled up and sobbing on the ground. And beside her . . . the large eastern diamondback reared its head back further turning to Slade, its tail shaking so fast it was a blur, its fangs out and ready. Some venom still dripped from one of the deadly appendages. Slade glanced at the girl's bite on her leg . . .
The snake lunged for his leg as Slade lunged for Slashera. Fangs sank into his leg, causing Slade to grit his teeth at the sharp sting as the snake injected its venom before whipping back as Slade jerked his leg away, the man now holding Slashera in his arms. Slade's crystal eye locked onto the serpent, as his left arm fully supported the child while his right hand clenched around her calf muscle as a temporary way of reducing the vein and artery flow to and from the area wound. She whimpered in his ear, her heavy breathing on his neck causing fury to rise within him at the creature that glared up at him from the earth below. He growled swinging the leg the snake had just bit in a pinwheel motion before crashing it down on the reptile's head, instantly snapping the neck of the thing that had DARED to harm his apprentice. . .
Slade frowned, pausing in his rocking. "Father Slade, I'm sorry." He blinked, staring, as the small whisper interrupted his thoughts. And looked down to find her eyes gazing sadly up at him. He smiled gently at her, "Whatever are you sorry for, Little Slash?" "For getting bit," she whispered, tears beginning to well up in her eyes once more. He reached his hand up and brushed them away, "Shhh, Little Slash. Shhh. . . there's no reason to be sorry, and no reason to cry. It wasn't' anyone's fault that you got bit by that snake. It was just the snake's. It was only an accident. Now go to sleep," he murmured. She nodded, closed her eyes, and he continued to rock. She was just beginning to drift off when, "Are we going back out to play tomorrow? I miss it," she murmured. He smiled, "Yes, Slashera. We are. And we're going to be having even more fun! There's a new place I want to show you." She smiled, "That'll be fun." He nodded and turning to her, pressed his lips to her forehead, "Yes. Yes it will be." She smiled, her eyes having still been closed and he continued to rock her. After he knew she was asleep, he frowned. It was he who was to blame for her getting bit and he knew it. He should have been able to see the viper before she'd even gone over the jump! If he hadn't known previously to have the anti-venom at the cabin, just in case . . . he gripped her tighter to his chest. Slashera would have died. It was that simple. All that work, all that time, all that progress. Wasted! And he wouldn't have had anyone to blame but himself. . . At that moment, a commotion from down in the forest caught his attention. He blinked, and leaning forward a bit, looked down.
The stag they'd seen weeks ago had been walking with his group of does, fawns, and one of the bucks that they'd seen with the group. Apparently, the stag had been caught off guard by the buck, because the mighty creature was lying on the ground, with the buck advancing on the does and fawns, having worked up enough courage and gotten close enough to the stag to try to take over. At that moment, the stag was back on its feet, and the buck was sailing through the air to slam against a tree from the force of the attack unleashed. For a moment, the buck lay there, but then it began to get up . . . the stag didn't give it a chance. Running again, the thing slammed its horns into the side of the buck on the ground, forcing it even more against the tree. Slade watched as the stag repeated the attack three times, until the buck lay quietly on the ground, blood pouring from a few gashes in its side. Satisfied, the stag turned, and in no time, was leaping through the forest away from the cabin, his does and fawns right behind him. Slade blinked, as the buck, after minutes of motionless waiting, slowly staggered to its feet before walking slowly away. Knowing it was defeated and no longer welcome in the stag's presence. And watching it go, Slade relaxed his grip on Slashera just a bit. With that, he leaned back in the chair and began to rock again. As a small smile formed on his face.
Despite the fact that the stag had let the threat come too close, it had nonetheless driven the threat back and taken back control of the situation and his does. And Slade simply would have to do the same thing. He might have messed up this one time, but he would not mess up again. The important thing was that Slashera was alright. He'd tended to her ailment, using the anti-venom he'd made, and that he'd been wise enough to place in the cabin. He'd played his part of the plan far too well to let something as insignificant as a mild snake bite cause him to stumble. Suddenly a vibration from his front pants pocket caught his attention. He blinked and shifted his arm supporting Slashera's back ever so slightly, causing the girl to groan in her sleep and reposition herself a little bit. Pulling out the PDA, he opened his e-mail and gazed down at the new message.
SW,
We are all truly sorry for the setback you encountered with the exhibit, despite the fact that we have come to understand that this is nothing for you to overcome. You will be pleased to know that the sculpture that the staff favors so much has been completed and sent to you. It is being sent with the utmost security and should reach you promptly.
-WW
Slade smirked. At last. . .
WW,
It was only a minor setback and was easily handled. The sculpture, I'm sure, will be a magnificent piece in the exhibit.
-SW
Slade pressed the send button. After waiting a moment, a new message flashed across his screen.
SW,
We'd expect no different from you. And I promise you will NOT be disappointed.
-WW
Smirking, Slade laid his head back against the rocking chair once the PDA was pocketed. And as Slashera repositioned herself once more, he let himself fall asleep to the sounds of the forest, once more content, the cool breeze moving gently around him.
*-this is the scientific name for the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. I have always had a fear for the Diamondbacks, ever since I was at a kid's camp as a counselor, looked up in a tree, and saw one just right up on the branch above. I had to remain calm and move my kids away from it. I swear my heart stopped.
A/N: So this was perhaps one of the saddest and hardest chapters for me to write. But it was also a very important one, at least to me. This is because while Slade and Slashera don't do much physically and outside in this chapter, I think it just shows some insight into the emotional and psychological bond forming between the two. I also like how Slade can find messages in nature that seem to fit his situation in ways he might not have realized beforehand. I always love it when I find messages in nature.
