FINALLY! A new chapter! Sorry guys for the wait...see I met this guy...and well. I been spending a lot of time with him. sorry for the neglect! Anyway! Please enjoy this chapter! I hope I don't seem to be rushing this story too much. Please read and review for me! Let me know how I'm doing!

Chapter 10: Test

It had been four days' time. Raven was having a hard time keeping time, trying to figure out if the little clock in her concrete "room" meant eight at night or in the morning. With no windows and her not on the best speaking terms with her "protector", she couldn't tell the time. The room blocked her magic if she tried using it. The door and ventilation vents were impassable due to alarm setups. Yet she couldn't sleep and pass the time like she wanted, waiting for this stupid thing to blow over. That nightmare with Slade had truly unsettled her stomach and conscience. Dreams were the offspring of events in one's life combined with fantasies, fears, joys and other emotions. How could she ever think of Slade like that? Despite that a dream itself is involuntary, why would her mind be so cruel as to conjure that kind of nightmare? What kin of trick was her inner subconscious trying to pull? Raven's eyes hardened at the already beaten pillow and never glanced to the thrown sheets and covers o the floor. Maybe Slade was not like that. He was the kind to lust for power…but to be a rapist…she couldn't fathom (or more didn't want to think about) that possibility. Could he want power enough to rob a young girl of her precious innocence? Did he do that to Terra? Hands clutched to her pale head as Rave shook her head violently trying to disrupt this disturbing thoughts. Her stomach began to rumble now with hunger…and only now did she half glance at the shattered dish and scattered servings of food on the floor…

Slade grasped at the flat wall of his room, wincing in pain. Blood had soaked into his outfit, giving the black parts of it a mysterious red hue in the light. Lex was definitely mad this time. Slade wasn't in the least bit surprised. Lex was much like him. He didn't like hires disobeying or becoming defiant. He had challenged Lex though…saying to have his bodyguards better prepared next time if they were going to try and spring a surprise attack on him. So maybe it was his own fault for proposing that challenge. Still…he managed to quickly end their lives and instill a bone chilling threat to Lex if he ever dared to try that again. It was too much right now and they needed to strike. Lex seemed to be getting to distrusting of him and may soon find out Slade's plans to deceive him.

"Wintergreen…"

An elderly man came in with a tray and a cup of tea set on it. Slade smirked under his mask despite the horrible pain he was in. Wintergreen was always good at predicting the things he wanted. And probably would soon lecture him to not tend to his little captive in the dungeons area.

"Sit and relax…and let's not worry about the girl tonight. I have been watching her and while…she has refused food and drink, she should get over her little tantrum. We need you fixed up at the moment."

Slade wasn't surprised Raven refused any food or drink. It was too soon to hope she was over that mysterious dream. She'd still be raving and ranting over it and indirectly blaming him though it was her own mind that came up with the dream. While he was not against striking out at his apprentices (despite the age) or cruelly treating them, he wouldn't sink so low as to demonstrate power over a girl by raping them. There were more fun ways to break their resolves…mind games being one of his fortes.

"I had a feeling you would suggest that but I must disregard that concern. She is harmless right now. With those cuffs and the surrounding system preventing the use of her powers, she isn't a match…even if I had an arm missing."

Wintergreen watched as Slade took a few drinks of the warm tea and headed off toward the area he kept the Titan. The man picked up the metal tray and cup and gave a half-smile. Somehow…he knew Slade was fascinated with her even if the man would never admit it. Whether it was attraction to her or to the powers she retained, he didn't know. It was like this when Slade was obsessed with making Robin his apprentice. Slade would become too close-minded to everything else until he obtained his object of interest. It seemed now…he had another interest he may start obsessing over. Though this was different…Robin was defiant and so was Raven. The only difference was…Slade was playing with a half-demon. How long could he keep those cuffs on her? How much longer could he prolong this situation without Lex becoming too suspicious? Wintergreen left the rather bare room for the kitchen to clean up and head off for his own rest.

Raven became stuck when she heard the door unlocking and swinging open to reveal that despicable tall, muscled man known as Slade. She stared at him for a while before her eyebrows knitted and her teeth started to grind with hatred. He had turned and closed the door, taking a key and locking it. Extra precautions due to her last attack and near escape. He shoved the key into the metal protector on his forearm and gave her a little glare.

"Hello, sunshine."

Raven hissed in aggravation at his sarcasm and did not move from her spot. Fingers gripped so tight into the mattress, the nails were beginning to tear holes into the material. Slade took a step toward her which was a mistake. Raven leapt off the bed like a wildcat to attack him. Minding his injuries, he dodged the attack and winced when a pain shot up the side. Raven had darted past him but now turned and was trying to deliver a round kick. An arm came up and blocked her attempt and only gave a harsh push that made her fall onto her behind. Raven got up quickly and went to punch at him. Slade only side stepped and avoided her attack again. He couldn't afford strenuously fighting right now…not with these wounds…

She was noticing his reluctance to engage in battle. All he kept doing was blocking or dodging. Why couldn't he hit her? He'd done it many times before…so what was so different now? Then it hit her. The demon side of her kicked in enough to trace the scent of blood. His blood. He was injured…she stopped her assault and stood there watching him. His eye and body showed no signs of fatigue or pain. Was he really numb to injuries? If he was bleeding that bad enough…he shouldn't even have the strength to stand. Not to mention not venturing down here to confront her! Why did she care…Rage building at herself for being momentarily worried, she launched a new attack with much energy and speed that Slade was beginning to have a hard time keeping up. Wintergreen was right…this wasn't the right time to have come here. It was too late to get out though…a well placed kick landed in his stomach where one of his most severe injuries was and made him crumble down to his knees in pain. Blood was coughed up behind that mask and he kept a hand over his stomach as he looked up to Raven, glaring. He expected an attack and was ready to grab her and mercilessly pound her body into the ground…but what he saw made his blood stop.

There was a concerned look on her face. A look of surprise, concern and hinted with anger. It looked like she was having a hard time trying to decide how she felt about the situation. Slade staggered to his feet, the stomach area glistening in the light of the room now with fresh blood. His body wasn't having the time it needed for its enhanced healing abilities to kick in and this fight was just making it worse.

"What are you going to do?"

Raven had her arms limp at her sides as she stared at him then looked down. The cuffs on her wrists prevented her from using her powers…even if she wanted to, she couldn't heal him. But why on earth would she do that for? For the longest time he had been their sworn enemy! Tightening her fingers into fists she glared at the ground, trying to come up with a good reason why she should help. Yes he did aid in defeating her father, Trigon. Aided Robin into finding her. And supposedly aiding them again by not letting Lex gain control of her. He kept saying before that she owed him…maybe after this they would be square and next time she wouldn't have such a hard time deciding whether or not to take his life.

"Release these cuffs off me."

Slade didn't think that was a good idea. Considering his state, it wouldn't be too hard for Raven to beat him. Something inside told him it would be okay…and acting on that unsure voice inside his head, he walked to her and took her hands. Taking the key from a compartment in his belt, he unlocked the cuffs and kept them in one hand. He'd be sure to put them back on after whatever she was going to do.

Raven stood there still unsure about her kindness. To criminals, kindness exploited weakness. Criminals would take advantage of it. They would use people through it. Still…no one was here. Robin wasn't here to scream at her for helping. Cyborg and Beast Boy weren't here to criticize her for being kind to Slade but not them. Starfire wouldn't give her those sad eyes and show that disappointment. A glittery aura came from her hands as she applied them to his stomach and with a sigh, began to heal the internal injuries. While working on him, she had to wonder what he done to get in this shape. This was too vicious and cruel to really be Robin's work…yet even she knew how erratic Robin got when Slade's name was brought up. He became darker, crueler…just so similar to what Slade was. Moving from the stomach, she went to his side and healed a large gash there. Walking around him and him moving accordingly so she could get to the affected areas, she healed him to where he only felt soreness. Coming to his back, she ran her healing hands over a shoulder blade and wrinkled her brows. A bullet was lodged in his skin there…someone shot him? How was he able to be so elusive then in their little fight? And even stand…she worked hard to rid the bullet from his flesh and healed the wound. After the assessment and finding no more injuries, she stepped away and kept her head lowered. Somehow, Raven felt humiliated. That she showed such kindness to this man. But now he could never say she owed him anything. Or she could have left him in pain and possibly die.

Slade walked towards her and replaced the heavy cuffs to her wrists. Raven found something about it peculiar. He was being gentle. Handling her wrists with care and making sure the cuffs didn't lock and pinch her skin. Even adjusting the pressure so they were more comfortable and not so restricting on her vessels and flesh. Was this his act of gratitude for her actions? Raven glanced up to see his masked face from the side and was surprised to see…a soft look in his eye. What was wrong with him?

"…You know. That was unnecessary. I would've healed on my own."

WHAT? So…so he just unlocked her and let her heal him even though he knew all this time he would have been okay?! What was he playing at! What would have happened if she had decided to deceive and attack him?! Was he suicidal?! Her wide eyes kept staring at him in disbelief and he chuckled. Ah, she was so amusing at times.

"But thank you."

He let her go and taking the key from his forearm, unlocked the door and left her there standing in shock. The door locked but Raven didn't hear it. All she kept hearing was him…saying thank you. Slade. Their enemy. Their nemesis. Thanking her for helping him. What was his aim in unlocking her like that? Realizing what just happened…her small frame began shaking with anger and humiliation. A blush was on her cheeks. He…had tested her.

Slade stood outside her room with a renewed energy. The girl's healing abilities were quite effective. Flexing his fingers, his watched them in contemplation. His little test on his trust in her had passed. Slade knew well he wouldn't have died (though he felt like he might have) as long as he could trust her to not attack him. While he didn't know what his plan would have been if she had decided to try and attack him with her powers, he risked it. Smirking, he went on his way back to his room for some rest and for tomorrow, some more deception for Lex. Time was drawing near to put an end to that bastard's plans and his life.