Without the Mask
By Sava Varen
Quick Notes:
You better believe me when I say the disclaimer is in the prologue!!
Autumn- HELL YEAH!! I succeeded in what I was trying to do!!! YAY!! I love making the plots very strange and unable to see until it later!! YES! Rock on!!
By the way, I'm sick of writing that Chapter number; it's getting confusing. From now on it's just the name. :P
Chapter: Sickness and Weakness
Terra and Slade jumped into action. The Titans reacted just as quickly. Robin fought with Slade (go figure!) with the help of Cyborg and Aqualad. Starfire, Raven, Blackfire, and Beastboy took on Terra. Throwing multiple boulders at them, Starfire and Blackfire got rid of that with their star bolts. Raven attempted to knock Terra from the boulder she floated on, but just was hit herself. She fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious. Blackfire took a more up close and personal tactic and tried to punch Terra, but missed every time. Starfire pulled her sister back.
"Sister. We are not to harm Terra. Robin wishes her to join on her own."
"But she's trying to hurt us!"
"All we can do is block her attacks in hopes of tiring her out. I'm sorry sister, that is what Robin wishes."
Blackfire sighed. "Okay, whatever."
Beastboy blocked an attack from Terra and successfully managed to knock Terra to the ground. Starfire and Blackfire blocked a large boulder shot by Terra that was heading for Beastboy.
"Terra, please stop! We do not wish to harm you!" Starfire tried to reason with Terra.
"So! I want to hurt you though!" she commanded the ground to crack and engulf them, but Starfire and Blackfire (grabbing Beastboy) flew away.
"Terra! Why are you doing this??" Beastboy asked. "You used to be so friendly!"
"That's when I was weak! When I was easily taken advantage of! All of you will die at my hand when the time comes!" she growled as she punched Beastboy in the stomach.
He coughed and stumbled backwards to the ground. Beastboy, having the breath knocked out of him, could only cough and try to call to Terra for her to stop. Terra punched him in the face. He lay on the ground, his nose bleeding. Starfire went to help Beastboy, while Blackfire (along with the now conscious Raven) went to stall Terra so Starfire could get Beastboy somewhere to regain his breath. Terra let out a powerful, golden energy wave of anger knocking everybody to the ground.
"What was that?" Cyborg asked in a surprised, yet pissed tone as he stood up.
Slade too wished to know what happened. His eyes widened as he saw a furious Terra floating two feet off the ground and outlined in an eerie golden glow. Her eyes glowed to match. Terra wasn't one to be messed with at this point, but if Slade let her, she'd destroy them all! Slade whacked Robin and Aqualad aside and ran to Terra.
"TERRA! No!" he pulled Terra down and slipped the clip on her real quickly. "Not yet! I told you just to weaken them! Terra! Listen to me!"
Frowning, Terra listened to what Slade told her and tried her hardest not to kill them out of anger. Slade pulled the clip off and went back to fighting. He charged at Robin and punched him in the gut. Holding his stomach and moaning in pain, Robin received a direct blow from Slade's staff right in the shoulder. CRACK! Robin's shoulder shattered! The sound echoed throughout the room. Cyborg became furious and attacked Slade with his built in arm cannon. Slade dodged every shot and whacked Cyborg at the ankles causing him to trip. Aqualad grabbed Slade's staff with both hands when the attack went to him. Trying hard to pull the staff from Slade's grasp, Aqualad received a hit in the chin from Slade letting go (A/N: my cousin does that to me when we fight like that over something!! DAMN YOU DJ!!). Aqualad fell backwards into some metal boxes and the staff rolled away from him. Slade quickly retrieved his staff and went on to the next titan: Starfire. She had just put Beastboy up on a high ledge when Slade threw a bomb up at them. Starfire fell headfirst to the ground and made a huge crater in it. She lay unconscious where she'd landed.
"Too easy." Slade whispered in pleasure.
Then Blackfire came for her sister's revenge. She grabbed the staff and broke it in two. After throwing it aside, she punched Slade in the jaw. He stepped back to steady his balance. Blackfire shot star bolts at him, which he easily dodged by back flipping and jumping off the wall. Blackfire threw two metal boxes at Slade's back, but Terra intervened them quickly and reflected them back at Blackfire. After shooting the boxes to pieces, Blackfire flew at Terra, but missed her aim. Terra had moved over a bit, and then elbowed Blackfire in the back hard. Blackfire made her own crater in the ground, but did not go unconscious. Noticing something terribly wrong, Beastboy yelled out to the Titans.
"STOP! Robin's gone! Retreat! ARE ANY OF YOU LISTENING??"
At hearing Robin had gone missing, the rest of the team stopped. Blackfire gasped and grabbed Beastboy. Aqualad grabbed the unconscious Starfire and made an escape the rest of the Titans, with lots of difficulty, managed to escape. Terra followed them on her own will before Slade could say anything about it. Slade knew Robin had dragged himself away. Robin wasn't one to admit defeat, but wouldn't be foolish enough to stick around when he knew he was badly injured and would be unable to win. Slade followed the path he'd last seen Robin near. About a half a mile down, he found Robin lying on the ground gasping in pain. When he caught sight of Slade, he tried to get up to run, but fell back down in a heap moaning with pain. Slade stood towering over him.
"Go away!! Leave me alone!" Robin just barely managed to say in anger.
"Now, now Robin. You wouldn't be able to return to the tower and it would take days for your friends to find you! Don't be a fool in thinking you can escape!"
"What have you done to Terra?! She couldn't possibly have agreed willingly to join you!" Robin spat.
"Surprise, surprise Robin. She did willingly swear allegiance to me. And you know what? It's all you fault! You and your friends!"
"What? No! She didn't! It wasn't!"
"Oh yes Robin. Terra swore her allegiance to me of free will and it is your entire fault! Now come quietly!" Slade grabbed Robin's arm (not broken), and heaved him over onto his shoulder. He quickly pulled out a walky talky and called to Terra.
"Terra, return back to the hideout. We need to plan. Be quick about it too!"
"Alright. I won't be long."
"Good. Meet me in the control room."
"Kay."
Slade returned the walky talky to his belt and ran back to the hideout.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terra flew back on a large boulder to the not so secret hideout. Jumping off about two feet from the ground, Terra ran in and to the control room as quick as possible.
"I'm here." She said out of breath.
"Good. Now we must discuss where we are going to move the base to and we must do it quickly." Slade got straight to the point while turning on a map on the big screen.
"Where's Robin?"
"I have him in a room where he can't escape. I've stripped him of his weapons and ways of interaction with people out side these walls."
"Alright. Ummmm...back to the base thing."
"Yes...I had the old rundown storage building near the desert in mind, but I'd like you to choose."
"What? Me? But...you've already got a good spot...I mean..." Terra stopped and looked hard at the screen.
The Titans' tower was all the way directly across. That surely wouldn't do. She started to search for a location closer to the T-tower.
"There!" she pointed at the abandoned aquatic research center.
Slade took notice that it was exceptionally close to the T-tower. "Terra?"
She knew what he was going to ask. "They'd expect us to move away because we have Robin and we can't afford to lose him. They'll look through places that are close to important bases and destructive chemical supplies. But they'd never expect us to be right on their doorstep. We'll have an advantage in watching them and staying undetected all the same. I'm pretty sure we can pull it off."
"Hmmm...very good Terra. You're learning quickly. Lets get ready. We need to start as soon as possible."
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Robin lay in a dark room. It was warm, but he could see nothing. That really wouldn't really matter because he couldn't move anyway. The pain that seared it way throughout his whole body was almost unbearable. There was a burning feeling everywhere except his right shoulder. There was no feeling in his shoulder because it was shattered. He did what he could to turn over to the right to relieve some of the stress in the right. Fortunately, it worked. Suddenly, a door opened. The light was blinding. Robin honestly thought it was Slade coming to torment him, but he was wrong. It was Terra. He stared as she approached him. She was wearing the same uniform he'd seen her in only three times before. They'd met up with Slade a whole bunch of times in-between, but Slade only allowed her three times.
"I can't believe it." Robin said simply as he continued to stare at her.
"You don't have to believe it Robin, but it is. And there's nothing you can do." Terra said trying to ignore his stare.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Very...sorry." He sighed in between the words 'very' and 'sorry'. "I just wish you would've given us a chance."
"I did." she answered stubbornly.
"Yeah? Then let me rephrase. A second chance."
"Too late for that."
"I see. Well, since I have you attention now, I guess it would be the appropriate time to say that Beastboy didn't spill the beans. I figured it out on my own."
Terra was silent. So he'd kept his word all along. It was too late to go back though. And there was also the other reason why she stayed...
"It's too late to go back."
""Unlike you, Terra, we Titans believe in second chances. So you see..."
"You're using me as a way out! And I won't stand for it!" Terra's eyes glowed golden with anger.
"No! That's not my intention."
"Watch it Robin! Slade may want you and the Titans alive, but I want you all dead! I'll do it at any given time as well!"
"And then feel Slade's wrath? Tell me Terra, do you have a death wish? Do you even know that Slade is a highly dangerous and deadly super villain? He, himself, could kill you at any given time! And at the way you act, I'm wondering why he hasn't already!" Robin said as he tried to stifle his gasps of pain.
Terra knew the reason to that. But she wouldn't tell because then they'd really find a way to get through her to Slade.
"The reason is, is because he needs me. I'm not going to say anymore so be quiet."
"I hope you know what you're doing."
Terra pretended to ignore him.
'I hope so too.' She thought as she sighed.
Robin watched Terra closely as she filled a container with water and mixed it with something form a large, orange bottle. She poured the mixture into a bowl, grabbed a towel, and came back to Robin. Terra sat on the bed next to him.
"Hold still," she said as she carefully cut his clothes around his shattered shoulder.
He shuddered and gasped as pain seared all through his arm, shoulder, collar bone, and a small portion of his neck. After she'd finished that, she dipped the towel in the mixture, let it soak, and then dabbed it lightly on and around his shoulder. At first, he strained at the pain, but relaxed as the liquid quickly settled itself in to do its job. Finding kindness in his heart, Robin said;
"Thanks. I needed that."
"I'm just following what Slade told me to do...thank him." she said in a gentle, soft voice.
There was a long time of silence in which Terra cleaned up her mess and sat in a chair writing. Robin was a little confused at her actions. Why was she lingering here? Did Slade tell her to watch his every move? After about ten minutes of that, Robin's curiosity got the better of him.
"Terra, are you supposed to be a guard or something?"
"Slade told me to watch over you and tend to your wounds while I'm not training until you're healed fully."
"When will that be?"
"If you do indeed heal as quickly as Slade says you do, not too long I should think."
"What exactly did Slade tell you about me?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just curious."
"Didn't know you could be so curious."
"Well, I don't expect you to know a lot about me."
"Hey, don't start!" she looked back down at her paper and wrote something.
She looked up and saw him still staring and waiting for...something. Terra sighed in annoyance.
"You'll...hurt yourself." she said it as an excuse to not have to talk about it.
Needless to say...it didn't work. Robin continued his conversation. He wanted to know more.
"It' not like I haven't hit the climax of this shattered bone, not that much more pain could possibly come."
"Bones to be exact."
"Really? Which bones?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"You said--"
"Just be quiet! You're getting really annoying! How could the Titans have chosen YOU for their leader?"
"Well, I'm not usually like this."
"Then go back to the way you were, we all might be better off that way."
"I'll have to soon. As soon as my shoulder heals, Slade will be beating me around"
"Well, statistically, someone has to show you whose boss!"
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"How come Slade treats you like royalty?"
"Maybe I am royalty..."
"You are?"
"I don't know. I can't remember much of my past. Nor do I wish to discuss it or try to remember it." Terra said as she looked up at the clock. "Whoa! I ha to check your shoulder five minutes ago!"
"What?"
"I have to see how it's doing and see if it needs more medicine. You nitwit!"
Terra stood and went over to check Robin's arm. She carefully grasped his arm with both hands and felt around gently. He gasped with pain at each pressure she put on his arm. Even though she wasn't doing it at as much pressure she was supposed to do it at, Terra could feel the broken pieces of his bone. It was weird! Terra felt pity when she looked up at his face, a light red shade with pain. She didn't know why, but she wanted to stop to relieve him of his pain, but knew she needed to find where the shatter had originated. There! Right on his shoulder, there was a small, but deep hole; most likely a clear split right through. Grabbing the towel soaked in medicine with one hand, she took a knife in the other.
"Wha..what are you doing?" Robin asked nervously as he sighted the knife.
"I'm not going to be like that doctor and say it's not gonna hurt, cos believe me, it's gonna, so just hold tight and try not to move." she said as she aimed the blade.
Robin braced himself for a sharp pain.
"Ahhh...!" he tried to stifle his cries of pain as much as he could.
He arched his back and slammed his head against the bed as Terra cut through his skin (A/N: I'm honestly making this up as I go. I have NO idea what you're supposed to do in this situation. I just thought I'd make it different and interesting, I guess. *shrugs*). Holding him down by sitting on him, Terra could feel every muscle in his body tense and tighten immediately. Terra really felt bad for him, but she had no other choice. Slade's healing mixture wouldn't work as well without it being put inside personally.
"Robin. I'm sorry, but this will only work right if I do it this way. There's no other way unless you wanna lay here for another month or two while your shoulder heals. I don't think you should do that."
Robin calmed a bit at her...kind words. Terra remained where she was as she worked on getting the liquid into his shoulder without much pain. Sure, she wasn't doing a very good job at it, but it was her best. Suddenly, a rush of pain entered his arm.
"ARRRRR!!" he yelled as he almost kicked Terra off of him.
Terra hung onto the side of the bed to steady herself, but was forced to let go of his arm as not to put him in any more pain as it is. Unfortunately, Slade had been walking by and heard Robin's yell (Terra had too from surprise.) and came in to see what was going on. He folded his arms seeing Robin breathing heavily from pain and Terra hanging off the bed while hanging onto the side to keep from falling. He chuckled and walked to them.
"Not going too well?" he asked.
He grabbed Terra gently, but firmly by the arms, listed her, and set her down (my uncle does that to me when I'm almost falling off the couch! He's VERY strong! It's fun! He just grabs my arms, lifts and sets me down! Of course, it was a lot funnier when I was smaller. I seemed to be up higher, that's why. And plus, I didn't weigh as much, blah!). He ran his hand across he face as he walked away towards Robin.
"Giving her trouble?" he said.
"No! It's just very bad pain. I think you hit him a little harder than you meant to." Terra said smiling uncertainly (doing a sweat drop thingy like in the series!)
"Hmmmm...perhaps..." he said looking at Robin's bleeding shoulder. "Terra, continue! I'll hold him."
"Uhhh...alright." she picked up the towel and knife and washed it real quick.
"Ready?" she asked Robin.
"Do I have a choice?" he asked hopelessly.
Slade probably would've hit him for that, but Robin was already enduring a lot of pain, so I was good enough for Slade. Terra carefully dabbed the medicine on the wound and quickly wrapped it in bandages. Robin let out a long breath as relief came from the medicine. He was still breathing heavily, but no longer from pain. Just stress now. Terra wiped Robin's sweating forehead and face with a wet cloth (not the one with med.). After that she said:
"Rest easy now. Stress will make things worse. Don't worry about anything."
Slade observed this act of kindness. "Terra lets go. I need to talk with you."
"Alright." Terra felt she'd done something wrong and her heart was pounding...for all sorts of different reasons (I might add...*wink wink*).
Once out in the hall, Slade at first had his back towards her, but once he heard her shut the door he turned around and advanced on her.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"I don't understand? What AM I doing?"
"I was hoping you could tell me!"
"If you're suggesting that little act of kindness towards Robin, it's only because he's in great pain! He won't heal if we keep pushing him! He needs rest and--"
Slade quickly put his hand over her mouth. "You are NOT to do it again!! Hear me??"
Terra tried to yank his hand off, but was unsuccessful at it and recieved a shove to the ground. Slade pointed threateningly at her while holding her by the collar of her suit.
"Terra! You are NOT to do it again! This is my last warning! I will not repeat myself!"
"But Slade!"
"TERRA!" Slade brought his hand up to strike.
He hesitated. Why couldn't he do it? He held his hand up a while looking deeply into Terra's eyes. He couldn't do it, he wouldn't. He lowered his hand.
"Don't do it again," he said in a whisper.
Terra looked off to the side not wanting to answer. Slade kneeled down in front of her and grasped her chin. He searched through her eyes for an answer. She looked as if she were on the verge of tears. Slade couldn't understand why though. Was she that weak still?
"I can't promise you that I won't act on behalf of my pity. That's one thing I still have no control over."
Slade closed his eyes and contained himself. "Go to your room and rest. If you can't control those emotions and actions yet, it would probably do good to think about it. Maybe if you understood it a little more, you'll gain control."
"He stood and started to walk away. When heard no movement behind him, he stopped, sighed, and faced her once more.
"Do I need to drag you there or can you make it on your own?"
Terra stared at him.
"How can you be so heartless? He's in pain. He doesn't expect to be treated like that all the time!"
"And how would you know?"
"He told me himself! And he's noticed the way you act towards me!"
Slade wanted her to leave before he could no longer contain himself and did something he'd regret.
"I know Terra! Now please leave before..." Slade paused.
"Before what?"
"Never mind. Just go to your room. Check up on Robin at six thirty. And remember what I said!"
"Okay." Terra sighed in defeat.
Terra got up and went to the steps. After going down, she heard a very familiar sound. In the far left corner of the room was the pitter-patter of dripping water. Terra gasped and turned. There it was, just as it had been in her nightmare.
"I thought that was over..." she whispered.
Suddenly, the lights started to flicker. Ghost like images of the people in her dream started to appear around her. The burning came back, in both her body and mind. The only thing out of place was...Slade running towards her.
'Am I screaming?' she realized why he was running towards her. 'I can barely hear myself...'
"Terra!" Slade's voice seemed to echo and yet it seemed so far away. "Terra, listen to my voice!"
He had her by the shoulders and was shaking her. She seemed to go limp right there in his arms.
'I can't move. Such pain!' she thought.
Terra would've done anything to be able to tell him that, but now she was no longer screaming, not even able to breath! Everything was going so fast. Slade continued to try to reach her. Good thing she was still able to hear...but just barely though.
"Terra! Listen! You have to keep listening to me!! Stay awake! Don't--" Terra heard no more after that.
No more...no less.
A/N: I AM VERY SORRY FOR THE LATE UPLOAD!! This chapter took FOREVER to write even with a hell of a lot of Krissy's help! BOW DOWN NOW!! I CAN SEE YOU ALL STILL SITTING THERE SAYING "Go to hell, I'll bow when I feel like it!" Disobeying me will only cause death!! Wait...I am death...FEEL MY WRATH!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Just kidding, but still, lets all have a round of applauds for Krissy! She's a really big help and guess what! She's better! Her flu has been destroyed! yAy!! Well, last but not least: PLEASE REVIEW!! I NEED SELF-ESTEEM LIFTS!! Do what you can to help pleasepleasepleaseplease!!! Please and thank you!! *hugs all the reviewers*
Quick Notes:
You better believe me when I say the disclaimer is in the prologue!!
Autumn- HELL YEAH!! I succeeded in what I was trying to do!!! YAY!! I love making the plots very strange and unable to see until it later!! YES! Rock on!!
By the way, I'm sick of writing that Chapter number; it's getting confusing. From now on it's just the name. :P
Chapter: Sickness and Weakness
Terra and Slade jumped into action. The Titans reacted just as quickly. Robin fought with Slade (go figure!) with the help of Cyborg and Aqualad. Starfire, Raven, Blackfire, and Beastboy took on Terra. Throwing multiple boulders at them, Starfire and Blackfire got rid of that with their star bolts. Raven attempted to knock Terra from the boulder she floated on, but just was hit herself. She fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious. Blackfire took a more up close and personal tactic and tried to punch Terra, but missed every time. Starfire pulled her sister back.
"Sister. We are not to harm Terra. Robin wishes her to join on her own."
"But she's trying to hurt us!"
"All we can do is block her attacks in hopes of tiring her out. I'm sorry sister, that is what Robin wishes."
Blackfire sighed. "Okay, whatever."
Beastboy blocked an attack from Terra and successfully managed to knock Terra to the ground. Starfire and Blackfire blocked a large boulder shot by Terra that was heading for Beastboy.
"Terra, please stop! We do not wish to harm you!" Starfire tried to reason with Terra.
"So! I want to hurt you though!" she commanded the ground to crack and engulf them, but Starfire and Blackfire (grabbing Beastboy) flew away.
"Terra! Why are you doing this??" Beastboy asked. "You used to be so friendly!"
"That's when I was weak! When I was easily taken advantage of! All of you will die at my hand when the time comes!" she growled as she punched Beastboy in the stomach.
He coughed and stumbled backwards to the ground. Beastboy, having the breath knocked out of him, could only cough and try to call to Terra for her to stop. Terra punched him in the face. He lay on the ground, his nose bleeding. Starfire went to help Beastboy, while Blackfire (along with the now conscious Raven) went to stall Terra so Starfire could get Beastboy somewhere to regain his breath. Terra let out a powerful, golden energy wave of anger knocking everybody to the ground.
"What was that?" Cyborg asked in a surprised, yet pissed tone as he stood up.
Slade too wished to know what happened. His eyes widened as he saw a furious Terra floating two feet off the ground and outlined in an eerie golden glow. Her eyes glowed to match. Terra wasn't one to be messed with at this point, but if Slade let her, she'd destroy them all! Slade whacked Robin and Aqualad aside and ran to Terra.
"TERRA! No!" he pulled Terra down and slipped the clip on her real quickly. "Not yet! I told you just to weaken them! Terra! Listen to me!"
Frowning, Terra listened to what Slade told her and tried her hardest not to kill them out of anger. Slade pulled the clip off and went back to fighting. He charged at Robin and punched him in the gut. Holding his stomach and moaning in pain, Robin received a direct blow from Slade's staff right in the shoulder. CRACK! Robin's shoulder shattered! The sound echoed throughout the room. Cyborg became furious and attacked Slade with his built in arm cannon. Slade dodged every shot and whacked Cyborg at the ankles causing him to trip. Aqualad grabbed Slade's staff with both hands when the attack went to him. Trying hard to pull the staff from Slade's grasp, Aqualad received a hit in the chin from Slade letting go (A/N: my cousin does that to me when we fight like that over something!! DAMN YOU DJ!!). Aqualad fell backwards into some metal boxes and the staff rolled away from him. Slade quickly retrieved his staff and went on to the next titan: Starfire. She had just put Beastboy up on a high ledge when Slade threw a bomb up at them. Starfire fell headfirst to the ground and made a huge crater in it. She lay unconscious where she'd landed.
"Too easy." Slade whispered in pleasure.
Then Blackfire came for her sister's revenge. She grabbed the staff and broke it in two. After throwing it aside, she punched Slade in the jaw. He stepped back to steady his balance. Blackfire shot star bolts at him, which he easily dodged by back flipping and jumping off the wall. Blackfire threw two metal boxes at Slade's back, but Terra intervened them quickly and reflected them back at Blackfire. After shooting the boxes to pieces, Blackfire flew at Terra, but missed her aim. Terra had moved over a bit, and then elbowed Blackfire in the back hard. Blackfire made her own crater in the ground, but did not go unconscious. Noticing something terribly wrong, Beastboy yelled out to the Titans.
"STOP! Robin's gone! Retreat! ARE ANY OF YOU LISTENING??"
At hearing Robin had gone missing, the rest of the team stopped. Blackfire gasped and grabbed Beastboy. Aqualad grabbed the unconscious Starfire and made an escape the rest of the Titans, with lots of difficulty, managed to escape. Terra followed them on her own will before Slade could say anything about it. Slade knew Robin had dragged himself away. Robin wasn't one to admit defeat, but wouldn't be foolish enough to stick around when he knew he was badly injured and would be unable to win. Slade followed the path he'd last seen Robin near. About a half a mile down, he found Robin lying on the ground gasping in pain. When he caught sight of Slade, he tried to get up to run, but fell back down in a heap moaning with pain. Slade stood towering over him.
"Go away!! Leave me alone!" Robin just barely managed to say in anger.
"Now, now Robin. You wouldn't be able to return to the tower and it would take days for your friends to find you! Don't be a fool in thinking you can escape!"
"What have you done to Terra?! She couldn't possibly have agreed willingly to join you!" Robin spat.
"Surprise, surprise Robin. She did willingly swear allegiance to me. And you know what? It's all you fault! You and your friends!"
"What? No! She didn't! It wasn't!"
"Oh yes Robin. Terra swore her allegiance to me of free will and it is your entire fault! Now come quietly!" Slade grabbed Robin's arm (not broken), and heaved him over onto his shoulder. He quickly pulled out a walky talky and called to Terra.
"Terra, return back to the hideout. We need to plan. Be quick about it too!"
"Alright. I won't be long."
"Good. Meet me in the control room."
"Kay."
Slade returned the walky talky to his belt and ran back to the hideout.
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Terra flew back on a large boulder to the not so secret hideout. Jumping off about two feet from the ground, Terra ran in and to the control room as quick as possible.
"I'm here." She said out of breath.
"Good. Now we must discuss where we are going to move the base to and we must do it quickly." Slade got straight to the point while turning on a map on the big screen.
"Where's Robin?"
"I have him in a room where he can't escape. I've stripped him of his weapons and ways of interaction with people out side these walls."
"Alright. Ummmm...back to the base thing."
"Yes...I had the old rundown storage building near the desert in mind, but I'd like you to choose."
"What? Me? But...you've already got a good spot...I mean..." Terra stopped and looked hard at the screen.
The Titans' tower was all the way directly across. That surely wouldn't do. She started to search for a location closer to the T-tower.
"There!" she pointed at the abandoned aquatic research center.
Slade took notice that it was exceptionally close to the T-tower. "Terra?"
She knew what he was going to ask. "They'd expect us to move away because we have Robin and we can't afford to lose him. They'll look through places that are close to important bases and destructive chemical supplies. But they'd never expect us to be right on their doorstep. We'll have an advantage in watching them and staying undetected all the same. I'm pretty sure we can pull it off."
"Hmmm...very good Terra. You're learning quickly. Lets get ready. We need to start as soon as possible."
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Robin lay in a dark room. It was warm, but he could see nothing. That really wouldn't really matter because he couldn't move anyway. The pain that seared it way throughout his whole body was almost unbearable. There was a burning feeling everywhere except his right shoulder. There was no feeling in his shoulder because it was shattered. He did what he could to turn over to the right to relieve some of the stress in the right. Fortunately, it worked. Suddenly, a door opened. The light was blinding. Robin honestly thought it was Slade coming to torment him, but he was wrong. It was Terra. He stared as she approached him. She was wearing the same uniform he'd seen her in only three times before. They'd met up with Slade a whole bunch of times in-between, but Slade only allowed her three times.
"I can't believe it." Robin said simply as he continued to stare at her.
"You don't have to believe it Robin, but it is. And there's nothing you can do." Terra said trying to ignore his stare.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Very...sorry." He sighed in between the words 'very' and 'sorry'. "I just wish you would've given us a chance."
"I did." she answered stubbornly.
"Yeah? Then let me rephrase. A second chance."
"Too late for that."
"I see. Well, since I have you attention now, I guess it would be the appropriate time to say that Beastboy didn't spill the beans. I figured it out on my own."
Terra was silent. So he'd kept his word all along. It was too late to go back though. And there was also the other reason why she stayed...
"It's too late to go back."
""Unlike you, Terra, we Titans believe in second chances. So you see..."
"You're using me as a way out! And I won't stand for it!" Terra's eyes glowed golden with anger.
"No! That's not my intention."
"Watch it Robin! Slade may want you and the Titans alive, but I want you all dead! I'll do it at any given time as well!"
"And then feel Slade's wrath? Tell me Terra, do you have a death wish? Do you even know that Slade is a highly dangerous and deadly super villain? He, himself, could kill you at any given time! And at the way you act, I'm wondering why he hasn't already!" Robin said as he tried to stifle his gasps of pain.
Terra knew the reason to that. But she wouldn't tell because then they'd really find a way to get through her to Slade.
"The reason is, is because he needs me. I'm not going to say anymore so be quiet."
"I hope you know what you're doing."
Terra pretended to ignore him.
'I hope so too.' She thought as she sighed.
Robin watched Terra closely as she filled a container with water and mixed it with something form a large, orange bottle. She poured the mixture into a bowl, grabbed a towel, and came back to Robin. Terra sat on the bed next to him.
"Hold still," she said as she carefully cut his clothes around his shattered shoulder.
He shuddered and gasped as pain seared all through his arm, shoulder, collar bone, and a small portion of his neck. After she'd finished that, she dipped the towel in the mixture, let it soak, and then dabbed it lightly on and around his shoulder. At first, he strained at the pain, but relaxed as the liquid quickly settled itself in to do its job. Finding kindness in his heart, Robin said;
"Thanks. I needed that."
"I'm just following what Slade told me to do...thank him." she said in a gentle, soft voice.
There was a long time of silence in which Terra cleaned up her mess and sat in a chair writing. Robin was a little confused at her actions. Why was she lingering here? Did Slade tell her to watch his every move? After about ten minutes of that, Robin's curiosity got the better of him.
"Terra, are you supposed to be a guard or something?"
"Slade told me to watch over you and tend to your wounds while I'm not training until you're healed fully."
"When will that be?"
"If you do indeed heal as quickly as Slade says you do, not too long I should think."
"What exactly did Slade tell you about me?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just curious."
"Didn't know you could be so curious."
"Well, I don't expect you to know a lot about me."
"Hey, don't start!" she looked back down at her paper and wrote something.
She looked up and saw him still staring and waiting for...something. Terra sighed in annoyance.
"You'll...hurt yourself." she said it as an excuse to not have to talk about it.
Needless to say...it didn't work. Robin continued his conversation. He wanted to know more.
"It' not like I haven't hit the climax of this shattered bone, not that much more pain could possibly come."
"Bones to be exact."
"Really? Which bones?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"You said--"
"Just be quiet! You're getting really annoying! How could the Titans have chosen YOU for their leader?"
"Well, I'm not usually like this."
"Then go back to the way you were, we all might be better off that way."
"I'll have to soon. As soon as my shoulder heals, Slade will be beating me around"
"Well, statistically, someone has to show you whose boss!"
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"How come Slade treats you like royalty?"
"Maybe I am royalty..."
"You are?"
"I don't know. I can't remember much of my past. Nor do I wish to discuss it or try to remember it." Terra said as she looked up at the clock. "Whoa! I ha to check your shoulder five minutes ago!"
"What?"
"I have to see how it's doing and see if it needs more medicine. You nitwit!"
Terra stood and went over to check Robin's arm. She carefully grasped his arm with both hands and felt around gently. He gasped with pain at each pressure she put on his arm. Even though she wasn't doing it at as much pressure she was supposed to do it at, Terra could feel the broken pieces of his bone. It was weird! Terra felt pity when she looked up at his face, a light red shade with pain. She didn't know why, but she wanted to stop to relieve him of his pain, but knew she needed to find where the shatter had originated. There! Right on his shoulder, there was a small, but deep hole; most likely a clear split right through. Grabbing the towel soaked in medicine with one hand, she took a knife in the other.
"Wha..what are you doing?" Robin asked nervously as he sighted the knife.
"I'm not going to be like that doctor and say it's not gonna hurt, cos believe me, it's gonna, so just hold tight and try not to move." she said as she aimed the blade.
Robin braced himself for a sharp pain.
"Ahhh...!" he tried to stifle his cries of pain as much as he could.
He arched his back and slammed his head against the bed as Terra cut through his skin (A/N: I'm honestly making this up as I go. I have NO idea what you're supposed to do in this situation. I just thought I'd make it different and interesting, I guess. *shrugs*). Holding him down by sitting on him, Terra could feel every muscle in his body tense and tighten immediately. Terra really felt bad for him, but she had no other choice. Slade's healing mixture wouldn't work as well without it being put inside personally.
"Robin. I'm sorry, but this will only work right if I do it this way. There's no other way unless you wanna lay here for another month or two while your shoulder heals. I don't think you should do that."
Robin calmed a bit at her...kind words. Terra remained where she was as she worked on getting the liquid into his shoulder without much pain. Sure, she wasn't doing a very good job at it, but it was her best. Suddenly, a rush of pain entered his arm.
"ARRRRR!!" he yelled as he almost kicked Terra off of him.
Terra hung onto the side of the bed to steady herself, but was forced to let go of his arm as not to put him in any more pain as it is. Unfortunately, Slade had been walking by and heard Robin's yell (Terra had too from surprise.) and came in to see what was going on. He folded his arms seeing Robin breathing heavily from pain and Terra hanging off the bed while hanging onto the side to keep from falling. He chuckled and walked to them.
"Not going too well?" he asked.
He grabbed Terra gently, but firmly by the arms, listed her, and set her down (my uncle does that to me when I'm almost falling off the couch! He's VERY strong! It's fun! He just grabs my arms, lifts and sets me down! Of course, it was a lot funnier when I was smaller. I seemed to be up higher, that's why. And plus, I didn't weigh as much, blah!). He ran his hand across he face as he walked away towards Robin.
"Giving her trouble?" he said.
"No! It's just very bad pain. I think you hit him a little harder than you meant to." Terra said smiling uncertainly (doing a sweat drop thingy like in the series!)
"Hmmmm...perhaps..." he said looking at Robin's bleeding shoulder. "Terra, continue! I'll hold him."
"Uhhh...alright." she picked up the towel and knife and washed it real quick.
"Ready?" she asked Robin.
"Do I have a choice?" he asked hopelessly.
Slade probably would've hit him for that, but Robin was already enduring a lot of pain, so I was good enough for Slade. Terra carefully dabbed the medicine on the wound and quickly wrapped it in bandages. Robin let out a long breath as relief came from the medicine. He was still breathing heavily, but no longer from pain. Just stress now. Terra wiped Robin's sweating forehead and face with a wet cloth (not the one with med.). After that she said:
"Rest easy now. Stress will make things worse. Don't worry about anything."
Slade observed this act of kindness. "Terra lets go. I need to talk with you."
"Alright." Terra felt she'd done something wrong and her heart was pounding...for all sorts of different reasons (I might add...*wink wink*).
Once out in the hall, Slade at first had his back towards her, but once he heard her shut the door he turned around and advanced on her.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"I don't understand? What AM I doing?"
"I was hoping you could tell me!"
"If you're suggesting that little act of kindness towards Robin, it's only because he's in great pain! He won't heal if we keep pushing him! He needs rest and--"
Slade quickly put his hand over her mouth. "You are NOT to do it again!! Hear me??"
Terra tried to yank his hand off, but was unsuccessful at it and recieved a shove to the ground. Slade pointed threateningly at her while holding her by the collar of her suit.
"Terra! You are NOT to do it again! This is my last warning! I will not repeat myself!"
"But Slade!"
"TERRA!" Slade brought his hand up to strike.
He hesitated. Why couldn't he do it? He held his hand up a while looking deeply into Terra's eyes. He couldn't do it, he wouldn't. He lowered his hand.
"Don't do it again," he said in a whisper.
Terra looked off to the side not wanting to answer. Slade kneeled down in front of her and grasped her chin. He searched through her eyes for an answer. She looked as if she were on the verge of tears. Slade couldn't understand why though. Was she that weak still?
"I can't promise you that I won't act on behalf of my pity. That's one thing I still have no control over."
Slade closed his eyes and contained himself. "Go to your room and rest. If you can't control those emotions and actions yet, it would probably do good to think about it. Maybe if you understood it a little more, you'll gain control."
"He stood and started to walk away. When heard no movement behind him, he stopped, sighed, and faced her once more.
"Do I need to drag you there or can you make it on your own?"
Terra stared at him.
"How can you be so heartless? He's in pain. He doesn't expect to be treated like that all the time!"
"And how would you know?"
"He told me himself! And he's noticed the way you act towards me!"
Slade wanted her to leave before he could no longer contain himself and did something he'd regret.
"I know Terra! Now please leave before..." Slade paused.
"Before what?"
"Never mind. Just go to your room. Check up on Robin at six thirty. And remember what I said!"
"Okay." Terra sighed in defeat.
Terra got up and went to the steps. After going down, she heard a very familiar sound. In the far left corner of the room was the pitter-patter of dripping water. Terra gasped and turned. There it was, just as it had been in her nightmare.
"I thought that was over..." she whispered.
Suddenly, the lights started to flicker. Ghost like images of the people in her dream started to appear around her. The burning came back, in both her body and mind. The only thing out of place was...Slade running towards her.
'Am I screaming?' she realized why he was running towards her. 'I can barely hear myself...'
"Terra!" Slade's voice seemed to echo and yet it seemed so far away. "Terra, listen to my voice!"
He had her by the shoulders and was shaking her. She seemed to go limp right there in his arms.
'I can't move. Such pain!' she thought.
Terra would've done anything to be able to tell him that, but now she was no longer screaming, not even able to breath! Everything was going so fast. Slade continued to try to reach her. Good thing she was still able to hear...but just barely though.
"Terra! Listen! You have to keep listening to me!! Stay awake! Don't--" Terra heard no more after that.
No more...no less.
A/N: I AM VERY SORRY FOR THE LATE UPLOAD!! This chapter took FOREVER to write even with a hell of a lot of Krissy's help! BOW DOWN NOW!! I CAN SEE YOU ALL STILL SITTING THERE SAYING "Go to hell, I'll bow when I feel like it!" Disobeying me will only cause death!! Wait...I am death...FEEL MY WRATH!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Just kidding, but still, lets all have a round of applauds for Krissy! She's a really big help and guess what! She's better! Her flu has been destroyed! yAy!! Well, last but not least: PLEASE REVIEW!! I NEED SELF-ESTEEM LIFTS!! Do what you can to help pleasepleasepleaseplease!!! Please and thank you!! *hugs all the reviewers*