Another chapter! Yay! I got so many great reviews for the last three and I am veryglad you enjoyed them all. I am working on the 26th chapter already, so maybe tomorrow it'll be up. Work keeps interfering...-growls- Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter! The next will be quite fun! PLease keep reviewing and letting me know how you all like it! Thank you for reading and reviewing!

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Chapter 25: Dinner

It had been minutes since the screen went blank and Robin continued to stare at it. The others knew what Robin was thinking but desperately wanted to believe his delusional belief would be wrong. The way Raven questioned Robin's desperate plea for her to come back and figure it out themselves hinted at the idea she might have grown "comfortable" where she was at. Though it could make them all guilty at one time or another too. There were many times they had to hold Robin back and dissuade him from obsessing about Slade. Starfire had once told Robin he was similar to Slade. They didn't trust anyone. Could it have been Raven's way of telling Robin to not be impatient and to simply trust her judgment?

"Robin?"

"I can't believe she questioned me...he's getting to her, I know it. I don't know how, but he's trying to turn her against us!"

"Hey chill, man. You know Raven's not goin' to turn on us! She's been on this team since the beginning. Ain't no way she is goin' to turn coat. And especially to him of all people. Don't you think she remembers what he did to her? C'mon!"

What Cyborg said made sense. Raven hated Slade perhaps even more than Robin. What Slade had done to her was far more personal than what he put Robin through. He had attacked her through her past, her most private of secrets that they didn't even know. Raven had every right to hate that man than Robin did. With this to consider, it was a farfetched idea to think Raven would betray them for Slade.

"Cyborg...he's doing something to her. I don't know what it is, but I want to find out."

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The evening was approaching. A beautiful sunset set a gentle and relaxed mood on the coast. It was visible in Raven's room through a large window. Very faintly she could see the Titan's tower out on it's own island. She had ventured through the house all day and gotten lost multiple times. Wintergreen had found her and politely invited her to the kitchen where he made her a steaming cup of tea. She was finding herself growing quite comfortable in this estate with Slade...but why? That incident last night was supposed to not mean anything but when she had the quiet time to herself, it was all she could think about. Begging Slade to go harder and calling out his name in passion. The man was masterful of her and had read through her barriers right into what her unconsciousness truly desired. That feeling he gave her...that sense of rushed release and mind numbing bliss...much of her wanted to experience it again even if it was morally wrong. Would her friends really want her back if they ever found out what kind of feelings she was harboring or their worst enemy?

"Raven."

That deep, baritone voice sunk into her very skin and gave her back and hips a cold chill. When she looked over her shoulder to Slade standing at her doorway, she said noting and didn't give any indication for him to come closer. She just studied his profile before demurely looking back to the sunset outside her window. She was fighting desperately to return to the light, but this heavy, seductive darkness refused to let go of her.

"Wintergreen has made dinner. I'm quite sure you're hungry so come down."

The aspect of food was appetizing. Her small stomach made a gurgle of hunger and she decided to obey it. Raven stood and walked towards Slade who had his hands behind his back. It was a natural stature she noticed Slade had so she thought nothing of it.

"First, those tattered clothes are not acceptable anymore. Take them off."

"What?!"

Slade gave a gentle chuckle at Raven's response. He let his hands forward and revealed a new leotard for Raven to wear. The girl quieted and stared at the clothes and gave him a sheepish glance. Raven grabbed the leotard and held to it for a little while.

"Change."

The feeling of indignancy sunk into Raven but she closed her eyes and began to take off the shredded leotard. To be naked in front of him was worse than having him atop her ripping the clothes off. Raven began tugging the leotard on quickly, not wanting to give Slade enough time to enjoy her nude body. The clothing fit perectly and consisted of the same material her other leotards were. It was comfortable and hugged at her body just the way she liked. Dressed and feeling better, Raven followed Slade downstairs to the dining hall for dinner. The smell of food wafted through the hall and made Raven's stomach growl in joy. Though hunger occupied her mind, there were still a few gnawing worries.

"You think the Joker is going to care if Lex ratted him out to you? It may not make him betray Lex."

"Raven, I'm not trying to persuade the Joker to my side. Neither am I going to believe the Joker will be shocked to know he was ratted out. The Joker is a kind of man who lives on causing chaos and disaster. It won't matter if he was betrayed or not...in fact, he may just be waiting for Lex to betray him. He's probably working with Lex just to see how long Lex can stay honest in the business deal, then maybe the Joker has his own plans when that does happen. The Joker isn't concerned about us. We're just in the middle of his "analysis" with Lex. It's just a vicious circle...we're planning against Lex, Lex is planning against us, and the Joker is planning against Lex and probably even us. I know what those men are thinking, and it means you have to trust my judgment if you want to catch them by surprise."

The long speech was analyzed by Raven and she found it quite believable. It was still a surprise to see Slade wanting to help her and looking out for her friends. The more she glanced to him and his intimidating aura, the more she wanted to smile and let that aura encase her and defend her. She walked quicker and stayed at his side without a word. As Slade noticed this, he gave a smile under his mask. It seemed Raven was beginning to really grow attached...which was what he wanted.

"Ah...Slade and Miss Raven. The steaks are ready."

The two of them sat down at a table before plates loaded with succulent and delicious looking food. Raven gazed at the homemade mashed potatoes, steaming carrots and brocolli, the thick and juicy slab of steak and fresh cut pears on a side dish. A cup of warm tea with a wedge of lemon caught her attention and for that moment, Raven never had felt so hungry in her life. Slade sat not far from her and took off the mask, setting it on the table. There was a look of nervousness in his body language but Raven didn't say anything. If she had kept herself masked from her enemies her whole life and had to sit down at a table with one, and unmask herself, then she'd be edgy as well. Raven gave thanks to Wintergreen for the excellent dishes and grabbed her fork and knife. A few times she stole glances at Slade and couldn't help but notice the weathered look in his features. It piqued her curiosity about his eyepatch. Still she felt it was too soon to ask about that incident. From what was gathered in her dreams, it was something incredibly painful psysically and emotionally for him. Raven began to eat her plate and wonder what her future held now.

"How is your food, Raven?"

Raven gave a glance to Slade who was eying her. She swallowed her bite and set the fork down. A few strands of hair were tucked neatly behind her ear as she decided to look directly at him.

"It's quite good...excellent really...and a relief from Starfire's cooking."

Raven was stunned as she caught herself having a leisurely talk with Slade. A smile had come across his lips as he stabbed the fork into a piece of steak. Was he comfortable talking to her in such a relaxed state?

"Oh? What is Starfire's cooking like?"

"...Well. I'd rather chance cyanide over eating her food. My chances are I'd survive the cyanide before the food."

Slade did something that he normally didn't do freely. He laughed. As Raven watched the man give an honest laugh and smile, she couldn't help but feel he wasn't the cruel, domineering man Robin made him out to be. Everyone all had sides to them others didn't know and this moment, she felt Slade was showing her a more relaxed and calm side of himself. It ate away the insecurity she had sitting with him at dinner. As they talked, Raven loosened up more and settled into the dining scene. Slade had talked to her about philosophies and a great deal of ancient history. Some of the things he told her fascinated her imagination. Such as Slade's visits to Egypt, the Orient and Europe. It captivated her attention to think he had been in some of the most ancient and mystical places Earth owned. She would never have guessed this enemy of theirs who was a criminal mastermind was this well educated in other fields. Soon all the hatred and humiliation Slade had made her feel was replaced with awe.

"If you can teleport anywhere...why can't you visit those places yourself, Raven?"

"Well...teleporting takes a lot out of me. I'd be stuck in the country for a while until I rested. Since the Titans need me so much, I can't take "vacations" like that. You make that a bit hard,you know..."

"...I've mentioned it before...if you would simply become my apprentice, I could show you those places. And much more."

Their charming evening was turning into opaque areas Raven didn't feel comfortable venturing into. Becoming Slade's apprentice meant she would be destroying everything she tried standing for, tried to prove she wasn't. The cloth on her lap was twisted around by nervous hands as dangerous thoughts of betrayal flittered through Raven's mind.

"I won't force you to, Raven. It is simply an open option for you...and it doesn't carry an expiration date."

Raven looked Slade in his face and found that he had a very patient and almost...caring quality in the features. Slade felt too warm and welcoming for comfort. He was driving at something and it involved her. The more Raven analyzed the situation, the more she kept thinking Slade wanted to keep her to himself and use her. There was no infatuation, love or attraction. It was all a ruse to get her to consent to being used.

"Slade...I know we may be close now...but after this is all over, we're enemies again. My friends are my friends. They been there for me in the toughest times, a particular tough time involving you and my father. I find it unfair too that you know everything about me, but I know hardly anything about you...why won't you tell me about yourself?"

"I found out about you because your father was nice enough to tell me...I found out about you through business, not conversation with you. I didn't request to know about your past, Raven. It came with the job."

"Tell me about the military then. Did you ever have a wife? Children? What happened to your eye?"

Raven knew she pushed it too far when she saw the warmth of Slade shut off immediately and the frigid coldness return to his eye. Th silverware was set down and Wintergreen came in to collect the dishes. The silence was making Raven's heart beat faster, her muscles to twitch and become restless. Part of her wanted to apologize for the rudeness, especially after such good treatment lately and delicious food. Slade's friend had sensed the trouble between them and opted to bring dessert out for them. The moment Raven saw Wintergreen leave the room, she turned to Slade shyly.

"I'm...sorry. I crossed the line. I shouldn't have asked."

"...I did have a wife and three kids...as for the eye, that I will not be telling you."

Raven perked to hear he was opening up and answering her questions. Violet eyes continued to rest on him, even though Slade was feeling uncomfortable with the conversation now.

"You...had a wife and kids?...What happened?"

"...One of them I do not know where she is. The two sons are dead. As for the wife...we divorced. She couldn't understand me anymore after I was released from the Army."

Wintergreen brought out plates with large slices of cheesecake drizzled in strawberry syrup and fresh cut blueberries. Raven smiled to the older man and accepted the plate as did Slade. The more she stared at Slade who wasn't looking at her, the more she felt he was in pain. There was something he wasn't telling her that had permanently scarred him emotionally. The strong block he set to keep his emotions inside and from being read was a heavy weight to Raven's senses.

"What did you feel when you first met your wife?"

It was a diversion to try and break down that block, to better understand Slade's intentions. At first his features remained stoic and unreadable until he offered a gentle smile. Raven could tell he was trying hard to remember that first day or time he met his first wife and was beginning to feel that emotion from long ago.

"She was beautiful. Intelligent, clever and honest woman. She took great care of our kids...however..."

The mental block was beginning to come up again but Raven had enough understanding to figure out what bothered Slade. This wife of his had caused permanent damage to his trust and emotions. For his children to be dead and the thought of his wife causing pain, Raven had theories that either she was the one that killed their sons or at least, was responsible for the loss of Slade's right eye. It was a delicate subject and the time was not yet right to state her opinions.

"Were you a good father?"

Slade gave her a long stare and let a defeated sigh escape as he looked back down to the half finished dessert.

"I was released from the Army, and still had that killing instinct planted in my mind. I was angered over an issue that happened between me and a higher ranking officer. It was hard concentrating on fatherhood when all I knew...enough about me. It's time we rested..."

The mental block was complete and Raven felt there would be no more chances to milk anymore personal information from him. With the subjects shared though, Raven felt much more sympathy for the man than she ever had. The fact he mostly raped her had fled from her mind as she tried to put herself in his perspective and wondered what she would have done. It was becoming more understandable the path he took in not trusting anyone. Raven pushed the dessert aside and stood from the chair. Slade followed suit and pushed his chair in.

"To be honest. Despite every horrible thing you've done to me...invading my privacy, ripping my dignity from me, molesting me...raping me...I can't help but feel sympathy for you. I can feel your own sadness and guilt and no matter how deep you bury it in your small heart, I can still sense it. You try to be callous, cruel and cold-hearted...but I think...deep down, a small part of you still wants to...be human."

Slade stared at her for a long while. What she had told him struck deep into his chest and ripped open a part of him he had worked hard to ironclad and hide. Raven was finely tuned into others emotions it turned out and he was showing her too many, letting her psychologically map him. too often he was letting his guard down and letting her inch her way into him, into his mind and past. That he couldn't let happen for long.

"Tomorrow, I expect Lex to declare the first meeting place. Or perhaps tonight. I'll be meeting him to obtain my payments, then we must go and meet him to hand you over. That's when I'll be calling your friends on both coasts. We will set an ambush up for Lex and the Joker, your little friends can arrest them and take them in. And I'll disappear. That's the plan, Raven."

The thought of him disappearing into the background again made her angry. For a whole year he had disappeared since the events with her father. Now he appears again, willingly aiding herself and her friends, and volunteering to take down a well known criminal. It flipped their worlds upside down. Then staying with them and the twisted attraction that had developed...part of her was raging against the fact that he would leave again.

"And we become enemies again."

"...That's your choice, Raven. I cannot make that for you."

Again it was the suggestion for her to come to his side and be his apprentice, as Robin had and Terra had. It was a choice she would never have thought she would be making. As she watched him pick up the mask and replace it, Raven could feel herself beginning to hate him again. It was easy to hate him when he didn't have that awful thing on, but when he revealed his face to her in trust, and talked to her just as any normal person...there could be no hate. If Slade wanted to obtain her trust, he would find any other way before revealing his face.

"I understand."

"Do you?"

Raven stood strong as he approached her. Something told her senses he was hunting her, searching for something within her. Violet eyes stayed on him and noted every move he made. A few times he had circled her quietly. Slade stopped in front of her, staring down at her with his eye in assessment. It took only a second for either to decide what their move would be. The moment he struck out at her was the moment she ducked under the punch and moved in to hit him in the stomach with a strong magical attack. Slade flew back anf hit the wall but immediately stood up. Raven drifted up and through the ceiling after delivering Slade an angry glare. Slade smirked at her running away...

"The game is on then."