Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.

Author's Note: Sorry I didn't get this in time. I was really busy yesterday and I swear I slapped myself as soon as I realized I didn't get this chapter out on Wednesday. Okay, so this chapter is very ambiguous and it reveals Sara's first official job. You'll get it by the end of the chapter. Presenting…Chapter 9: Fun Times All Around.

Chapter 9: Fun Times All Around

Slade

3:45 pm

Jump City

Titans Tower

Slade decided to back off for now. Obviously, the Thompson girl hadn't seen it yet. She hadn't seen the horrible fate awaiting her "brother", still unaware of the dangers lying just around the corner. It had been a whole week, and Slade was becoming impatient. But, the longer he stayed away, the less stress she felt. The less stress she had, the more likely it was for her conscious to take over. On the other hand, Robin was becoming a little annoying to her. He was probably lecturing Sara about how Slade was keeping quiet just to make them relax…which was half true. Robin thought he had Slade figured out, mostly at least, but the boy was wrong. He didn't even understand Slade's interest in the girl while she had guessed that it was Change…which was, again, half true. It wasn't Change itself that Slade wanted, but he didn't have any way to fully understand these new gifts. The other part of his interest in the girl was simple: she was very powerful. Though she didn't yet realize it, her powers extended further than normal Kinetics of twice her age.

It'd been about two weeks since Slade decided to give the Titans some breathing room. Finally, Oriole was beginning to show symptoms of seeing visions. The cameras he'd placed around the Tower were working perfectly, and Slade could watch her as if he were standing right in front of her. Her eyes were puffy and bags were beginning to form. Her skin was paler than usual, more so in the mornings. She'd been up at three in the morning for the past three days, and her tone was becoming slightly colder, even to Robin. Jumping at every single unidentified sound, she was obviously more cautious. The girl looked fearful every time the alarm went off and was becoming more protective of Robin during fights. For example, she put up a force shield whenever Robin was about to get hurt. While the other symptoms could've been something else, the last ones listed only added up to nightmarish visions about Robin.

Slade wanted to handle this delicately. Oriole was becoming more cautious and more nervous. She and Robin hardly went out on bike rides any more, which made it slightly harder to isolate her from the Titans. Then again, she was doing that herself. Hardly speaking to anyone, she remained locked in her room, meditating as her fellow hero Raven did. Every once in a while her eyes would open, revealing cold voids of black, no irises. This intrigued Slade. Did she really not understand part of the reason why this was happening to her? Why she was losing control? He had to get her alone, talk to her, or something before she lost control again. He saw his chance when Oriole went out alone one night, out towards the desert just outside the city.

This time, Slade went after her himself. He thought that if she talked willingly rather than being kidnapped again, she would actually listen. He drove to the desert, parked his car near an abandoned building on the outskirts of town, and walked the rest of the way. Waiting until she was focused on something else, Slade watched her from behind a nearby boulder. She looked around first, listening for any sign of an unwanted witness. Then, she sat cross-legged on the sandy floor, and relaxed, seemingly meditating. Still behind the boulder, Slade called out, "Hello again, Oriole. You seem upset."

She shot upwards and spun around, listening for the source of his voice. Slade stepped out in front of her. Her hand leapt to her belt, fingering for a bird-a-rang or some kind of weapon. He held up a hand. "That won't be necessary, I only came to talk." Her eyes narrowed disbelievingly and burned with determination, shadowing the fear concealed within. She got out a bo-staff and gripped it tightly, ready to fight. Deciding to play along, he asked, "You've been having nightmares again, haven't you?"

Startled, she backed away slightly, then checked herself and dug her nails into the cold steel of her bo-staff. Slade almost laughed at the similarity he saw between Robin and Oriole. If he hadn't known better, he might've guessed they were twins. "You been spying on me?" she demanded.

He chuckled. "I couldn't help but notice. How many hours of peaceful sleep did you get last night?"

She didn't answer. Slade took that to be none. "They've been about Robin haven't they? Your visions?"

Her eyes widened, and then narrowed in suspicion. "You've been sending them to me haven't you?"

He smirked beneath the mask, and it edged into his voice. "Believe me, if I did have a hand in that, I would be sure to tell someone about that. Actually, I've never had access to your mind."

She was silent for a few moments, confused and slightly bewildered. Realization hit her like a slap to the face. "You've been Changed. You have my powers."

He smiled. "Not exactly your powers Sara," Her eyes became wider, if that was possible, "but mine are similar, yes."

True fear sparked behind her eyes now, dread and misery beginning to join it. She backed away a few steps, Slade followed with the same amount of steps. "S-stay back. K-keep away from m-me." A shield separated the two, put in place by Oriole, and Slade stood on the border of it.

"You know that if I wanted to, I could just walk through. But I won't if you're scared."

Her cheeks burned and fire returned to her eyes. "I'm n-not scared of you."

"Well good. Then this will make things much easier. Since you are not afraid of me, will you put this shield down so we can talk normally?" He was baiting her into this, but if she wouldn't listen, he would do what he had to.

Her eyes flicked around nervously. Suspicion sparked her pale face. Reluctantly, she lowered the shield and allowed Slade to get closer. "What do you want?"

Slade ignored her. "Give me your hand. I want to show you something." But when Slade reached out, she snatched her hand away like his arm was a viper. "Oriole, don't be childish. I'm only going to show you something."

"Liar."

"Come now, Oriole. I'm not beyond reasonable. You can trust me." In his mind he added, As long as you don't get in my way.

"Prove it. Prove that you're worth trusting."

"I don't have time for this, Oriole. Either you trust and talk to me, or I leave. It's your choice."

Her eyes became slits. Slade knew what she was going to say before she said it. "I want to be left alone."

"Very well," Later then, Oriole, later. When he turned to leave, he found Oriole's infuriated face not a few feet from his.

"I want you leave Robin alone. You've done enough. There's nothing here for you. I won't let you hurt him again. Get out and stay out." She meant it. Every word, every syllable.

Slade merely chuckled. "This is a game of chess, dear Sara." Her eyes grew bigger at the mention of her name. "While you've defeated my pawns, I've only just begun my strategy. Soon you're castle will crumble around you, and you'll have to make a choice. Save the king, or the bishop?" With that, he disappeared, leaving her baffled and startled at his prophecy.

She'll learn eventually. Slade thought as he walked casually away from the desert, and the small girl that sat with her head on her arm, trying to puzzle out his riddle. When she figures it out, I wonder who she'll choose. King or bishop?

Oriole

4:12 am

Jump City

The Outskirts of Town

What did he mean? Castle will crumble around me? What castle? Save the king, or the bishop? What the heck does that mean? Sara puzzled over this for a while…until she got bored with it. After all, the detective stuff was Dick and Bruce's thing, not hers. But Slade scared her. What he told her did anyway. If he was a magician like her, Slade would use those powers against Dick. From the information she could weed out of the Titans, they were never able to beat him anyway, other than the times when he let them. And it was all her fault that Slade had even found out about magic anyway. Sure he heard of Raven's magic, but that was hereditary, not a simple gift or object that you could steal. What was going to happen to the Titans? She couldn't stay here forever. She couldn't help them with Slade. Eventually, Bruce would figure out that it wasn't Oriole that Slade wanted, and when that happened he would either insist on her coming home to Gotham, or he would come here to Jump City.

Oriole shuddered at the very thought of it. Beast Boy would be a fan boy head-case, as usual. Starfire would be too friendly. And keeping Bruce away from Jump would be Robin's top priority. Cyborg and Raven…well, she didn't know much about them, but it would be bad. Then Robin and Batman would get in a fight and Ro would be embarrassed when the Titans found out the truth behind the dispute between the "Dynamic Duo." They would find out why the argument between the mentor and the student had become so distant. Wait a second…mentor and student, master and apprentice, king and bishop! He meant Batman and Robin! Oh my God, what do I do? What do I do? Ro will find out if I don't tell him, and he'll freak out if I do tell him. Ugh, I just can't win can I? Deciding sooner would be better than later, she headed back for the Tower.

"WHAT!"

Oriole winced at Robin's tone. "Inside voice please, Ro. The others are still asleep."

He ignored her. "You went out alone? Oriole, are you really that stupid? What if Slade caught up to you-"

"Well…"

"He found you, didn't he? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"Yeah I'm fine. It's just-"

"Why didn't you call? I don't care what time of day it is Sara, if you see Slade you call me or the others. Got it?"

"I'm not a little kid who needs scolding for talking to strangers! I knew the risks, but when you hear what he told me you'll be thankful I listened to him."

"Nothing Slade says is ever worth listening-"

"Ro, he knows something about all of this." The reality of the situation began crashing down around her. "Ro, I'm afraid of what he might do. What he might do to Jump, to the Titans, back home in Gotham…to you."

"Oriole, forget about me." He grabbed her shoulders and squeezed comfortingly. Or at least, he was trying to be comforting. "Let me take care of myself, alright? Right know it's you I'm worried about. Oriole, you can't believe anything he says." He paused, searching for something that could explain. "He's like Strange that way. He messes with your head. Don't let him in yours too okay?"

"But Ro-"

"Sair, I'll be fine. I promise okay?"

In a small, fearful voice she replied, "You made a promise like that before."

His jaw set when she said this. "Look, I'll be alright. Just trust me okay?"

A sudden flash of anger followed. "You know, Slade said something of the same thing. And you know what I told him? I told him he was a liar. Apparently you and Slade have more in common than you'd like to admit." Obviously set off by this, his muscles tightened, ready to charge at her in pure anger. But he held himself back. She sighed, and remembered the real reason she told him any of this. "Robin, he made a prophecy. And…it's a little creepy."

"What was it?" He asked. His muscles relaxed slightly at the change of subject. But when she told him, he tensed even more so than before.

"And he said, 'Save the king, or the bishop?' Then he just disappeared. Ro, I think the king is supposed to be Batman, and the bishop is you."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking."

"And the rest of it?"

"Well, the part about pawns, that means Overload, Cinderblock and Plasmus."

"The castle?"

"Titans Tower maybe or the entire city."

"I don't like this. All of it is just so…cryptic."

"That's Slade for you." He growled darkly. Wow, he really hated Slade didn't he? And while she'd seen Ro just extremely dislike someone, she'd never seen him hate anyone. …Scratch that, he did hate Zucco, but that was a given. With Slade, it was completely different. He didn't just wish Slade had never been born, like he did with Zucco, he wanted to kill Slade. Searching with her mind, she delicately brushed the deepest loathing, the deepest fear in a memory. Robin stiffened as they both journeyed through the past that Robin was keeping from Oriole.

Oriole was standing in the shadows of what looked like the basement of Titans Tower. She could see Slade, standing over a small, limp, red and green figure. With a jolt, she realized it was Robin. "Oh my God," She breathed.

Robin tried to drag himself away. He was so weak. So hurt. She could hear his heart beating fast with adrenaline…and fear. She wanted to protect him. To save him. But this was only a memory. She was just a ghost, unable to do anything but watch.

Robin rose himself onto his knees near the stairs, but just barely. "Slade, stop." Such a broken, weak, scared voice. Oriole felt a different fear. A fear for Robin's life. Slade looked ready to kill him.

"It's just a memory. He's still alive; you know Slade won't kill him." She told herself

Slade's leg swung back and kicked him with all of the force he could muster. Robin whimpered, a sound so horrible, Oriole shut her eyes, trying to block it out. Then Slade said in his silky dangerous voice, "No, Robin. I won't stop. Not now, not ever. I am the thing that keeps you up at night." He grabbed Robin's tunic and lifted him up with unnecessary force. Robin wouldn't fight anymore. The fight had been beaten out of him. "The evil that haunts every dark corner in your mind. I will never rest, and neither will you."

"STOP!" A blast of energy forced both teens to fly back against the wall. Robin looked up at her with a look of defeat, and slight shock. Oriole tried to stop the tears, but they came anyway. He'd been so hurt. And that tone in his voice had sounded so defeated, and scared like a child. He moved closer to her, trying to be comforting.

"You shouldn't've done that Sair. My memories with Slade aren't happy ones." How could he be so casual? She almost felt insulted by his nonchalant voice. She wasn't a little kid.

"Ro, what happened?" Now her voice sounded like Robin's had: weak and scared.

"That was nothing, okay? Nothing. I'm fine now, see?"

"That was not nothing Richard Grayson! Slade looked like he would kill you at any second!" She fell into him, breaking down into tears. Oriole was probably going into shock. "Ro, I was so scared! I had to keep reminding myself that it was just a memory, but Di, I felt so afraid. You were so hurt. I've never seen you like that."

There was no doubt in Oriole's mind know that Slade could kill. That he wasn't your average criminal. He'd hurt Robin. And for that, he would pay. The idea of revenge wasn't new to her, but the flash of red before her eyes was. She wanted blood. She wanted to kill Slade and have his blood on her hands. She wanted him to suffer, to die in pain by her hands.

But then, Oriole was suddenly reminded of her old life, the life that had threatened countless people. Bruce had been her second target. Her first mission, however, had been a total success, in the eyes of the others anyway. To Oriole, it was a night of misery. She still had nightmares about it. Without warning, Robin's mind brushed against hers again, as he now wanted to know what she was thinking.

Sara was dressed in a Lara Croft style outfit. Black short shorts and a tight black top to match. There were holsters strapped to her back and ones hung on a loose belt. In her mind, she could feel Robin's presence, but the memory dragged her onward. Her target was a Japanese politician, Kai Tiang. She was trained for this, she was ready. Sara crept forward on silent toes, as Ricky had taught her. Slowly, carefully she made her way over to the long couch on which Tiang was sleeping. She stepped on something on the floor, a paper. Tiang jolted awake.

She saw the gun and started speaking in rapid Japanese. Sara raised the gun and clicked off the safety. Tiang began speaking in broken English. "No. No! Please! I give what you want. Please, no kill, no kill!" Sara pulled the trigger. Tiang slumped to the floor like a ragdoll.

Sara let out the breath she'd been holding when she heard a voice behind her. "Mama?" She spun around, gun pointed at a little girl, about five maybe six years old, as she came out of a small room, clutching her blanket in one hand, rubbing her eyes with the other. Then she saw her mother's body and looked up at Sara in fear. "Mama? Why won't she get up? Mama?" In that moment, she saw herself in that little girl. She'd taken away this little girl's mother. She'd made another orphan, another Sara in a sense.

"Stop," Oriole breathed, the memory becoming too much for her. Looking up at Robin's expression made it all the worst. She could sense the shock, and disgust coming off him in waves. She wanted to cry and sob for what she'd done, ask for another chance. She could never get that life back. Tiang was dead. And it was her fault. Oriole could never fix what she had done to that family. That Tiang girl, Aiko, she would never know what it was like to have a mother again, what it was like to have a mother embarrass you in front of your friends, never know a mother that would take care of you when your heart was broken.

Aiko was an oxymoron for her situation now. She was an orphan, yet her name meant beloved. The irony was both a little comical and disturbing. Aiko would never forgive her. Sara would have to carry this all of her life. There was no way to escape it. There was no way to undo what she did. She'd taken a life, and she couldn't give it back.

Author's Note: I'll admit it right now: I felt terrible writing this part. But it explains why Oriole hates killing and guns so much now. So, as always, review, hope you liked it, next chapter this weekend, have a great rest of the day! Thanks for reading!