Chapter 12: Deal
Trigon's daughter paced the small, cramped room. The aura of agitation was heavy around her and evident in her hardened expression. It sprouted from the confusion she had regarding Slade's very impetuous actions with her. Slade was always predictable by her standards. His main goal was to take over this city for his own operations. That meant feuding with the Titans and conspiring to defeat them. Bombs, threats, blackmailing...all very predictable. The deal he told her about with her father was even predictable as most criminals valued their life above all else. So how could someone who is used to a routine goal become spontaneous enough to kiss a young girl? Girl...yes. That bastard had lost what little respect she might have had for him as a human being. That pedophilic perverted fool. The more Raven gave attention to the incident, the more the anger boiled within her. A loud yell of rage came deep from within her as she began to tear and struggle with the restricting cuffs. Raven slammed the cuffs against the wall in a feeble attempt to shatter them and tried to even oversurge them with her powers only to receive higher and higher shocks of electric voltage. Small electrical burns began to appear on her wrists. She finally abandoned the attempt to free herself and fell onto the bed with her face in the pillow. She longed to see Robin and her friends again and was growing very tired and approching the brink of insannity being contained in this damned place.
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The screens around him shut off. Under any other circumstances, Slade would have perhaps enjoyed seeing Raven hurting herself and crying. It meant the defeat of a Titan in his understanding. The only reason he couldn't enjoy the torture Raven was causing herself was a fact he feared. Had he grown too attached to the girl? Why did his body command him to grab her and kiss her? Why was that attraction in his subconscious? There were so many questions had to ask himself regarding his highly unusual actions from earlier. Deep down he did admire her hidden demonic powers. It was true when he told her he never would have expected her to have such a reserve of monstrous strength and energy. Lex finding out about that power was partially his fault...something he hated to admit. Now there was quite a mess. Lex scouring the Earth to find the girl, Slade working with the Titans again to prevent another Apocolypse, Lex growing suspicious of him, and now tending to Raven whom he volunteered to hide. An opening to attack Lex hadn't appeared yet and Slade was biding his time until his chance came. Until then, he had to make sure Lex didn't snoop too deeply. Killng that one man wouldn't bring much suspicion. After his small chat with Lex over a video conversation, he'd given the excuse he despised the man sent after the early incident he was injured. Lex had smiled at him and said it was the reason he sent that particular person. It seemed Lex believed it was the bitterness that caused Slade to kill the man but Slade couldn't be sure. He had to watch himself more closely and prevent anymore abrupt actions. As for Raven...
"Wintergreen, please fetch some healing salves and meet me at Raven's room."
The older man that was standing behind Slade's chair gave a faint nod and went on his way to retrieve the items asked for. Slade stood from his chair and ventured to Raven's room. He unlocked the heavy door and walked in to a Raven still face planted into the pillow and shaking with anger, helplessness and sadness. Slade sood at the doorway for a moment, hearing the muffled noises she was making. Had she noticed he came in? The door was slammed closed and immediately Raven;s head snapped up from the pillow. Wide, frightful eyes turned into a hard, cold glare. Pale fingers gripped so tightly into the pillow that the nails were beginning to tear into the fabric. The fury Raven had radiated off every orafice of her.
"You...SCUM."
"Are we so childish that we still to resort to namecalling?"
A sound akin to a hiss escaped her lips as she flung herself at Slade in rage. Slade stayed calm. He knew Raven was not going to win this squabble if she wasn't capable of keeping a cool head. He sidestepped and caught her upper arm in a tight hold. Slade flung her back on the bed with ease and gave a sigh of irritation.
She was predictable. Everytime he threw her back on the bed, she would leap right back up and try attacking him. This couldn't continue. Slade grabbed her by thw arms and forced her on the bed and held her down. The rage was leaking through her angry, violet eyes. If those cuffs hadn't been on her, he had the feeling she would have unleashed the demon blood within her and refuse to stop it.
"Calm down, Raven...You're only hurting yourself."
Raven struggled under his grip and tried to wrench herself free. It was useless while these cuffs remained on her bruised wrists. She couldn't call on her powers or even the demon within her to free herself. Any try only ended in excruciating pain from electrocution. Being confined in Slade's own base with no contact with Robin and her friends, the loss of her powers and being dependent on Slade was slowly weathering her sanity. How much longer was this going to keep going on? How much longer could she grasp to reality before she fell over the edge into the abyss?
"If I...cooperate...I need to know exactly the details of Lex's plans..."
She became still under him yet her eyes did not once blink or let him out of sight. If she cooperated, would it really make things easier? Slade appeared to be taking everything into consideration before his hands loosened on her arms and let her up.
"I have already informed you, silly girl. Lex was planning to use your demonic powers to take over. You were to be his ultimate weapon against every country's military. His plans involved brainwashing you, and using threats against your friends to ensure your cooperation. He hired me with the impression I'd follow his plans. I agreed to be hired because it meant I could get close to my enemy and undermine his operations. Helping you and the Titans benefits me as well. And right now, Lex is growing suspicious of me. I have failed to find you for him. The Titans East knew of Lex's plans to attack them and had decimated Lex's group because I had Robin forward the message. He probably suspects me of hiding you now because of the long time it's taking me to find you, and because I killed a man who came to my base."
Raven looked to the side, not being able to look him in the face. She had calmed though and was thinking seriously about this. Was her stubborness really getting that mcuh in the way? But what did he want her to do? Just hide or did Slade...plan to take Lex's idea and make her his own personal weapon to take Lex down? She couldn't just sit in a damn room like this and wait out this whole fight. Wait...this was what Slade was waiting for. For her to give in and finally decide to help him. He was...going to get what he wanted. It made a vile and upsetting feeling in her stomach to realize Slade had forced her into the corner and abide by his plans. If she stayed stubborn and didn't comply, this whole face-off would take much longer. Slade couldn't expose his alliance to the Titans. If she did comply, everything Slade had planned would fall into place just like he wanted.
"I'll...I'll comply. What do I need to do..."
"I've told you that already. Cooperate with me and abide by whatever I demand of you. Help me take down Lex."
Was it really that hard to just agree and get this whole thing over with? There was much animosity towards him after her last birthday that she wanted to only cause this man misery. True he made up in the end for it by aiding them in the fight. At one moment she even was worried when Trigon had slammed him across the rubble into a pile of debris. Just for once maybe she could comply and aid him in his plans against this other villain.
"...Fine. I'll...work with you."
"Took you long enough to see it my way."
He released her and she sat up, looking down and feeling just a bit degraded after agreeing to aid him. Wintergreen had walked in and was looking upon the situation in silence. He had his own ideas of what happened but said noting in reference. He came to Raven and politely asked her to hold her arms out. Wintergreen gave Slade a glance as he prepared some of the salves to heal Raven's bruises and cuts from the cuffs. Slade unlocked the cuffs from her wrists. The air was pleasant yet cold after those brutal cuffs were taken off. The heaviness was lifted and her arms felt feather light. Wintergreen took ahold of her forearm and brought her damaged wrist over and began to pour rubbing alcohol into the small wounds to disinfect them. Raven hissed at the harsh burn and sting the cleansing alcohol left but calmed when the pain ebbed away. After patting down the area, Wintergreen began to apply a thick, gel-like salve to the cleaned wound and wrap gauze around it. He gave the same treatment to her other wrist and she just watched in silence as this older man took great care of her wounds for her. Slade only sat by and watched as his old friend fixed the young girl up. He didn't show it, but he was satisfied that Raven finally saw that rebelling wasn't going to help the situation they all were involved in.
"I want you to rest. I shall be bringing dinner around soon for you, Miss Raven."
Raven only stared at the older man with a blank expression. Inside, she was analyzing this man. He seemed nice, but he couldn't be that nice if he was working for someone like Slade. It wasn't possible. What kind of connection could the two have? She turned to Slade for a moment then glanced back down to the floor once she realized she looked his way. These two...was she going to be in their charge for months? Years? Or just a few more days? Would they grant her the request to speak to her friends?
"Slade..."
The voice held a touch of hostility. Slade overlooked it and decided to hear her out. There was a feeling he had that she was going to ask if she could contact her friends and at least let them know that she was okay and unharmed. Slade had promised Robin and the others Raven would remain unharmed...perhaps it would be best to prove that by letting Raven contact them.
"I want to speak to my friends."
"Sure."
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Robin was getting worried. There hadn't been any contact for days. They knew they wouldn't be able to contact Raven at all. Yet it aggravated him he didn't know what was going on. Was Slade hurting her? Trying to convert her to his side? It was frustrating and he lost much sleep worrying about his friend and comrade. The lack of sleep didn't improve his brooding mood either and he often snapped at others for causing small irritations. It was getting so bad that Beast Boy and Cyborg would walk out of the room and leave him alone. The only one who was putting up with his attitude was Starfire. Though she didn't know what to say when Robin got in those moods, she would at least sit in the same room with him. The three were trying to do things to occupy their time and not think about the situation. Taking down criminals, tending to their hobbies or going out for pizza. They had good times still, but they felt hollow...because they were missing someone.
"Yo Robin! It's Raven!"
Robin fell from his bed to the floor in shock at Cyborg's announcement. He wasted no time slamming his door open and racing down the stairs to the big screen. Sure enough, Raven was standing there looking at them. In the back, Robin could see Slade's outline and felt a well of anger boiling up inside him.
"Hey guys..."
"Raven! When are you getting back! We heard Lex was going for the Titans East...we got to forewarn 'em though. We had a few run-ins with some guys that worked for Lex...AND Slade...how's your side goin'?"
To see her friends was a moment of sheer and utter relief. To finally see their faces and hear their voices calmed the conscience and returned her sanity. The problem was she didn't know how to answer their questions. She didn't know what was going on aside what Slade would tell her. The things he told her wouldn't answer their questions. She glanced back to Slade to see if he'd give the answers.
Slade picked up on the silent hint and decided to give the spoiled Titans a report.
"Lex had henchmen fight me. I was injured but healed...quite quickly. Lex is highly suspicious of me at the moment so our plan of attack must be soon. And no later...Raven's refusal to cooperate has lengthened the short time we needed to catch Lex by surprise."
There was a silence as Raven gave a shy glance to her friends. Would they hate her for costing them the precious time they all needed to capture Lex? Or would they be more angered at the fact she finally decided to work alongside Slade in this mission? Robin seemed to have gone into a deep thought about the situation. It was indeed dire and on the brink of falling apart if they didn't find a way to keep it together. Slade looked over the silent Titans and decided it was best to give them his idea of a plan.
"I want Raven to learn to harness her emotions to her advantage. To control her demon's strength without losing consciousness of it. It is my plan to bring her to Lex and have her defeat him. Lex has many odd henchmen who've undergone experiments. Perhaps even professional criminals from your hometown of Gotham, Robin. And do not worry. I will make sure you are there to...participate, should we say."
The others gaped at the mere thought of Slade training Raven anything. The only things that ran through their mind was Terra and Robin. Slade had blackmailed them into being his apprentice and was very abusive and abrasive with his lessons. Robin's fists clenched tightly and his teeth grinded in sheer fury. Slade's suggestion brought up some very dark memories and he was going to refuse letting Slade teach Raven anything.
"Raven! Come back and we'll figure this out on our own! If Lex has criminals working for him from my old home, we can definitely get them and Lex! We don't need Slade for this. All he is going to do is use you. Like he did me and Terra!"
Raven stared at Robin in disbelief but the message was sinking in. It was true. Slade was using her. Would he try and brainwash her to take his side after this battle? Raven tried to think clearly about this. Lex needed to be stopped. He was hellbent on uncovering Raven and using her. Slade was hiding her to prevent her from being found by Lex. Slade hates Lex because he didn't want Lex taking over. Lex keeps growing suspicious of Slade and doubting his abilities in the search. Slade's been warning the Titans and the Titans East about future attacks to keep them safe...was it so bad to try and go along with the plan now in repayment for Slade's rare acts of honor? Or is this what Slade wanted...either way, Raven couldn't see another way out of it.
"Robin. I'll be fine. We'll give him benefit of the doubt. After this though...Slade, we will resume hunting you and fighting you. Deal?"
Slade was smiling under his mask. This was exactly the way he wished for his plan to go. For Raven to foresee no way out of this deal and decide to submit and go along with his plans. Raven's consent meant either two things: the Titans had to consent too or they would cast her from the team. He wanted to split them up.
"Deal."
Robin was not happy with the deal. As he stared at the screen, he got a funny feeling. Slade didn't seem at all displeased with Raven tellng him what deal she wanted. He seemed perfectly fine with what the outcome would be. Could this mean this is what he wanted? But Raven isn't afraid of making this deal. Maybe they should give her some trust to take care of herself.
"Fine, Raven...but keep in touch. We want an update every evening on a secure network."
The transmission was ended by Robin. The boy just stared at the screen and wondered if this was indeed the only route out of this predictament. A part in him couldn't help but theorize that Slade was planning this situation from the beginning. It wasn't about Lex anymore...Lex was just a speed bump in his way for something else.
