Chapter IX

Crisscross Double Cross

Robin stared as Slade's head fell off of the catwalk and bounced to his feet. He picked it up, feeling suspicious.

"Oh, Robin," said Slade's voice from the mouth. It was distorted and static filled, but it was still comprehendible. "I will always have the final laugh."

Spider-Man glanced up, his eyes wide. Robin guessed what he was sensing.

"Down!" he barked, picking up Starfire and running.

Somewhere else, an explosion shook the ground. The whole building was about to blow up.

"Titans, go!" he yelled. Cyborg, who had enough backup energy charged, slung a still unconscious Beast Boy over his shoulder. Spider-Man gently picked up Raven, who protested feebly.

Together they ran. Spider-Man stopped suddenly.

"Wait, what about Deadpool?" he asked. Robin slowed up, but didn't stop. He remembered how Deadpool had dropped the webshooters in his cage, and how he hadn't gassed him like the rest of the Titans. But he had still murdered people, and was Slade's brother.

"I'm sure he'll be fine!" Robin said. "We need to worry about our friends first!"

"Yeah, just leave him!" Cyborg said, emotion choking his voice. "I've already lost friends because of him, I am not losing these ones!"

Reluctantly, Spider-Man began to run. They all ran, trying to find an exit.

"This way!" Cyborg yelled, clearly relying on his scanners. "We're on the docks!"

They just barely made it out of the building... which turned out to be a warehouse... when it went up in a ball of flame.

The Titans dived into the water. Robin felt a searing heat pass him, and he clutched Starfire closer.

Oh, no... she's still gassed! No, no, please don't die...

He quickly rose to the surface, pushing her head above water. Debris still rained down hard on everything, but he swam to the shore.

"Star? Starfire?"

She coughed, the sweetest sound in the world. Apparently, water cleared the mind from whatever drug the Wilson's had been using. She opened her eyes, looked up at him.

"Oh, Robin," she said weakly. "I have been a fool. I should have always known..."

"Known what?" he asked, suppressing a sob of happiness.

In response, she cupped her face in her hands, and kissed him full on the mouth.

"H... h..." Beast Boy choked. "Happy ending." He picked up his jaw from the ground where it had fallen in shock, then grinned evilly and glanced up at Cyborg. Cyborg narrowed his eyes.

"Don't even think about it, Monkey Boy," he growled.

Wade felt the heat rise, and the flame began to burn his flesh. He just stood there, shocked. He hadn't killed Slade. He didn't do it. It was all a trick.

This wasn't how it was supposed to end...

Fire destroyed his body, and nothing could stop it.

Peter felt Raven push him away from her. He wouldn't let go until she proved she could stand by herself.

"I'm fine," she said shortly. Then, "thanks."

"No problem," he said, and then his brain stalled. He didn't know what to say next. It suddenly was awkward, as he looked at Raven, wet and bedraggled in her purple cloak, so different from the white Raven in his dreams. He wasn't sure he was looking at the same person. He wasn't sure that she had seen the same dream.

But I knew where she was. She told me, and I knew.

"You're staring," Raven said, but she blushed and looked away. Peter blinked, then shook his head.

"We should go," he said. "I don't trust Wade. Never did. Two times he's been blown up, so I don't know if he's actually dead."

"Yeah, but we're not!" BB said, pumping his fist in the air. "Go Teen Titans!"

"And Spider-Man!" Cyborg added, giving Peter a fist bump. Peter felt his knuckles crack against the metal.

"And Spider-Man," Robin repeated, coming over to them with Starfire. He reached inside his belt, and pulled out a Titan communicator. "I don't know if you'll ever return to your universe, but since you're here, I think you'll do just fine."

Peter took the communicator from Robin, staring down at it. This was it. If he accepted, he accepted the fact that there was no going back, that he would never see Aunt May, Gwen, Johnny, or Mary Jane again. He almost handed it back.

Almost. He stole a glance in Raven's direction. If this was how things were going to be, he could make it work.

"Thanks," he said, taking the com. "I... really... this means a lot..."

"Now you can have your own profile on Galactic Warfare Three!" BB said happily. Peter stared at him for a few seconds, then began laughing. He couldn't stop. Soon, all of the Titans were laughing, gut breaking laughter that could be heard all the way to Gotham. Even Raven joined in.

As the Teen Titans, all six of them, walked down the street, Cyborg suddenly spoke.

"Wait, where are we gonna live?"