Teen Titans; The Fighting Life – Epilogue Story – Chapter 13: Touchy Subject
/
The faces on the Watch Tower's monitor looked somehow near in age to the Titans; a young duo, one blonde, baggy looking teen with glasses and a high-pitched voice. Another, a player from Dakota – one that had a mask in black, blue , yellow and silver with a lightening bolt on his uniform. His hair was dark brown dreadlocks for the time of Y2K. Just in time to make some heads turn.
GL smirked up at the kids, but decided to play coy here while Bats was out of town.
"Do I, know you? Hey! How did you boys get in touch an' bypass the watchtower's frequencies?" It dawned on him that the Titans would be in for a shocker soon enough. Both were very brainy for heroes to be, growing up in South Dakota with their own set of tribulations to see to. Just like the Teen Titans.
The hero it looked to be was Black African American from the city with his brainy ally, who also were both stunned as heck to see some new faces in the world today.
~Yo! You don't recognize this guy right here? GL? ~ The blonde hounded Green Lantern to recall…. He inwardly got the joke, but Starfire was scrunching her brow up monstrously tight!
Yes, you couldn't forget that pair if you tried. However, the Titans had not officially met this up-and-coming heroic duo from Dakota.
~I'm really confused now, Richie! Didn't we stop his butt from goin' on a crime spree last year? -
"Don't be a wise guy, Static."
Richie grinned and nudged his pal with a bit of static cling – which really owched!
~ See! You couldn't forget about my main man, Static. Now, could ya? ~ Richie hinted to the Lantern, as he rolled his eyes away from the "butt kicking brothers in crime."
"Not a first or last time… Titans, meet Richie Foley and Static Shock." The male massaged his temples while the two on the screen leaped and did a high five for their mini victory.
(Noted, making a tweak here. Richie isn't gear yet since it's still the same time season one is with Teen Titans. Had to play in reverse. Not too bad for a first to last! On with the show.)
~See? Gear – head here is pretty wise, though. He tracked your number right back into outer space, an' who is the odd couple back there? ~ Static turned his head to see over at Star and Cyborg.
"How's it…. hanging out?" Starfire waved to be friendly to the new heroes.
~Uhhh, I dunno – OH! Wait, we do! Tune into channel four… It just started a few minutes ago. They won't change the clip over –
A cheeky teen in his basement had made a video; with footage showing the man Wally had seen, and a few other juicy details about the nemesis of one…
~The internet is blowin' up! Says here; as of yesterday, the greatest Assassin on the face of …. Well, ok…. not the known galaxy, heh, has announced that he's coming back out of retirement to start a new EMPIRE! Woooo! Oh my gosh! How did I get ahold of this info, you ask? Controlling the channels is my game – I'm the biggest, baddest dude on the tube right now - Oh! Right, the Boy Wonder – side kick to the Famous Batman of Gotham City, has come out from his long awaited…uh, wait…To show that he can kick League tail – you saw that? My drone got that shot way in Steel City, like a week ago. It's so awe! –
And then, they saw it.
Robin had kissed Aqualad, turning him into more of a fatal woe that Poe could depict from one of his short stories.
Starfire grew silent, while Cyborg glared at the scene with his eyes as ready to rip up that Control "Yuppy" or whatever.
~Um, is home boy playin – (remember, this is Y2K. The Anorexia years. No offense.)
"Robin has been…Wha?!" Star was also cut off after trying to cut Static off.
~It was not love at first sight, but the "Big Boss's" ingenious plot to see that his army only grows bigger from city to city! This intel is top secret…! I took the liberty of hacking into Star labs' database mainframe to get a good look at –
What? Oh shit! We've been hacked! It's! –
The Titans watched as This Control Freak - out was punished by… a warning team of blood – thirsty Slade Bots. The last thing they saw in the background was an insignia. A wet one, in red and black….
But not Slade's.
It was…
~You…. How this…It, can't be…No! ~ The rat had been quieted. The team looked away.
GL hung his head. Bats had not seen it. He'd just taken a walk…he'd….be calling any second….
Robin, had done the hit. He'd taken the bots to their target and had made his enemies squeal.
~How…Holy, that is…. some dark shit right there…. Whoa…~ Richie's head was spinning.
"You didn't watch it before you showed it to us, man?" Cy exclaimed.
Static rubbed the back of his neck and could not concentrate. ~ We just found this out a minute ago and… put it on freeze frame for you guys. This is, really dangerous fire you're playin' with, GL an' crew. Who was the robot bunch, just –
"Slade." Starfire said with her eyes to the floor. Her fists grounded into mounds by her sides, she was afraid to utter that man's very essence into the world around them. Nothing was sacred, to him, everything was meant to be used up and tossed away as soon as its purpose had been fulfilled. But Robin's seductive turning had her thinking otherwise. Slade treated the boy differently. Like he wanted Robin all to himself.
She had such venom in her thoughts for the man, that any such reason could not tempt her away from her desire to liberate a friend. By culling an enemy.
"We can do all we can, but I don't want you goin' up against the guy who took out The Flash with a wanted poster on every corner of the globe –
~Dang! Your nemesis took out The Fastest Man on Earth? The Speedster? That, Flash? ~ Static gawked with Richie there, to mirror the hero's emotions.
"My mentor." Wally gritted his teeth and tried to remain in control. If he'd lost his powers thanks to that shock device…He'd not live it down another day.
~Sorry, is he…~
"No, not ok. Not until we bring Deathstroke to justice. Interpol can let loose for all I care." He sipped himself a cup of warm liquids to help out his throat. Crying and abusing his throat; it was still a muscle that needed plenty of TLC. He'd shed tears, but Robin…Was not on his pity list of people to cry over. Not after that image that he'd seen.
~Death…Stroke?...There's gotta be an innuendo in there, Static. It's kinda… -
~Old School, Rich? We can't be picky with all of our bad guys. We'll keep it real here in Dakota and report any sightings to you via C.O.M.M link, do count on it, team. ~ Static grinned back at the team of heroes.
~I'm starting up a whole new program to get things shakin' too. ~ Richie beamed and started tapping on his tech like a type writer on steroids. ~ We want in; but, spoiler - you have to keep Bats off out trail –
"Why? So, you can illegally gather evidence from some top-secret military base? This isn't some game, Static an' his nosy - coat tail – ridin' side kick –
~ Hey! We just wanted to help em out, an' I'm his partner...~ Richie grumbled as Static finished up the feed on their end back in Dakota.
~ What? Phhheew! No...! And' Richie's got a mean suit he's been workin' on. We do wanna' help the Titans find where ole' DS is gonna' strike next. Why don't you let us do what Control – whatever, couldn't? We'll tell Bats the whole story once we've got a lock in on your missin' bird's coordinates. Scout's honor. ~
"You're gonna try, but I'm faster. My connections are in the United States military, so they won't go easy on you two sick – kicked punks." Smirked the almost lovable GL.
~ Let em' test my skill! Those guys will be treating us to a large pizza by tomorrow. Come on, V- I mean…Static. We've got a battleship to radar in on. ~
~ My super – sonar can handle it. See you dudes later. Bye! ~
The link ended, and GL knew he had an extra foot on the ground to put this case to rest.
"So…. the new guys seem…."
"They were very "fresh" as you earthlings, say?"
GL chuckled. Starfire was still pretty new to the business, herself.
"Y- yeah, Star…. We have a team on the ground that can break Slade's code." Cy tried not to laugh, being a victim like she was of fitting in.
"The coded message that Robin left for you, Kid Flash?" Star brought up; almost making the hero in red and yellow drop his mug. He looked up and sighed while leaning back into his seat. ~ Oh. boy…~
"Yeah…It was a pretty long one." He fibbed. Starfire, though heartbroken, was not downtrodden enough to dissuade from the issue.
"We DO have the time required to decode the message. Oh, please do not delay, yet do tell us what our friend –
"BUT." Wally put up a palm in response, "Afterwards, you may hate me after I tell you what his words were. It was mostly to Batman, for me to give to him since I'm light on my feet. I'm only doing that once my cup's run dry, soon."
"You could get knocked out, down below!" Cy reprimanded. "You wanna end up ten feet under an' on that killer's hit list, next? He's already teaching that pipsqueak how to throw knives at TV hosts! –
"That's why!" KF took a breath. "That's why Robin already has a way; he WANTS to get himself caught."
The boy smirked below the rim of his cup. The team remained intrigued, and also pushed aback.
"Captured…"
"By the police, Star." Cy nodded to his teammates. "He wants to get the Bat's attention, an' in any way he can, he will. Count on it."
/
Robin's wrist was rammed against a metal banister.
He cried out from the shock as Slade only made the punishment, more severe with each bust into the metal poles.
"Sneaking out to kill off a boob living with his mother…with specifically drawn intel on my whereabouts?"
Slade was furious.
"Did you plan this little stunt, somehow? Hmm? You have blood on your hands; not by your sworn oath to ME. Here, you don't have that right..." Slade put more pressure onto Robin's already limp limb as Slade heard a resounding crack in one of his ears.
The boy was pure white as a ghost.
"Nn….no!" No one was there to stop it. Robin had to break in order to mend. Slade would gladly show the teen how, if he'd even bother to listen to another of the man's lectures.
"DON'T EVER –
"AAggnnhhhaaa!" Robin's arm was now mangled. It was already starting to crackle back into place as the boy cried back out.
Robin dove to the side of the boat and vomited from the shock. He. Was. So. Close…His hazy vision had started to clear, a curse for another….
"Don't go out on me now, Apprentice. There is still the matter of your betrayal –
"Anh…...can't…. -
"Speak up." Slade commanded.
"Master. I…Can't –
"Wrong answer, Robin."
The words stung. He had become red – breasted…But…
Robin broke down and screamed. His…no…blood…why...WHY?WHY DID HE DO ANY OF IT?!
A palm over his face, his other arm hung uselessly, as it began to pop back into place as it should. Slade pulled out a bit of material and had the boy bite down as hard as he could as the bone reset itself back into its proper functioning position.
Robin was a tear - stained mess by the time this horror show had receded. Slade frowned below his mask and was sure Richard could use a few seconds to let the world catch up to him.
~ Or, he could wait for it no longer. ~
"Where…where are we, now?" He timidly asked his master; Richard's eyes as a doe's with no place left to turn to.
"We'll be in Star City within the next hour." Slade stood above the crying child. His gaze spanned out towards the open waterways. "I had to lower our defenses to have us granted access to the safe house on time." The man looked up at the breezy atmosphere. It was going to like ice eventually, and then the playing field might as well change.
"I…I…Master Slade...? I think that the heroes in Star –
"Have strong connections to your old mentor, I know enough of that to learn from any past mistakes." Slade took back the leather strap from Robin's hands, along with his apprentice who still clung to his marked security blanket. He eyed the boy and tugged the teen's still bruised and healing arm. Robin flinched.
"Hmm. They may recognize you too, so go get changed. Quickly. We'll spar before this arrival comes to pass."
Cryptic as ever, Slade's apprentice did nod, but not before Slade's fingers latched around the boy's bruised chin. "We'll patch up any black eyes we spot as well, won't we... and, be prepared for when I'm to summon you. Also…"
"Yesh?" The boy's jaw being kept in place made it difficult for him to reply. He had to bide his time, have the heroes take him in, stop Slade from tracing his movements every –
"You're not on the same page as your master, apprentice." Slade let Richard's jaw go, but not his arm.
"Forget it. You'll have time to change and prepare…. once I've had a quick warm up." The brawl was something Dick could only think bandages or magic powers might cover by hiding so many cuts and nicks below the skin.
He bowed, but fell instantly; trying to get a good kick in, though failing each time on purpose. Slade wouldn't have this rebellion much longer. He'd kept his temper lax until now, which meant in Gotham he'd be quickest to set off in front of Bruce…
"You'll have to do better than that, Robin." The boy wiped a cut of blood from his upper lip.
"Had enough? If you disobey even the smallest request, I have the power to change all of this, rebellion in you. I want you to realize it!"
Slade had Robin block another punch. And a third, raining onto him as buzzing hornets.
"That is why you are not going to be welcomed back – not as a hero, but a ruthless murderer. You've already crossed that line with the Titans!"
"It wasn't me! You…. you made me! –
"Did you think that your hands were on puppet strings that one time? No Robin, your heart was long gone; for someone like the man you mercilessly gutted with your blade…He wasn't worth that amount of pity as they were…" His voice sent shivers up the boy's spine.
The next hit was a kick, and Robin used his meta – strength to keep the man's backlash from striking him too hard. Slade twisted his body and Robin lost his grip. Trying to regain his composure, the next hit that had come was far too close for comfort.
Behind, him –
"Slade! Agh!"
Robin was dragged up with his arms tugged back behind his back. Slade knew how to grapple larger adults. The thought terrified our ex – hero. He'd almost forgotten to breathe.
"You know that the desire to get what you want isn't cheap, apprentice. You'll take what's most important to secure your survival…. while under my –
"YAAA!" Robin flipped out of the man's hold and hit him right at the point between his ear and shoulder. Raging out, Slade made sure to keep a firm grip on the nano – bots' controller.
"Very good, Robin…You're becoming as ruthless as before; as that fight back in your precious Jump City. You'd hate to admit it, but we are very much alike, you and I …"
"We…I'm nothing like you!" Robin went into his only defensive mode as Slade dusted off his own uniform to bring the heat once more.
"Come now, Apprentice. Your lethal style is nothing like the Bat's at all. It's vivid," He praised Robin. A fluid word for such a carefree soul.
"So, full of promise. You enjoyed that little spar session…. It was a thrill, wasn't it? –
"I…had to stay alive, you turned me into a freak! A monster! -
"Your team welcomes monsters; doesn't it?" Slade's eye grew by the word "doesn't."
Robin gulped. His grip was loosened up. The man was playing his mind games. He'd have to –
"You can't escape, not with what's already begun. Or, what is about to happen." Slade had his hands behind his back, facing his new favorite sparring partner aboard this death - ship…
Robin's spirits sank. He was wasting his saved-up strength, fighting a losing war. Robin licked his chapped and nicked lips. He hung his head, the victor forever the overseer of the entire voyage home.
"You win, Master Slade…. I'll do as you say…" Robin got to his knees and tried to look the part of the gracious protégé. The person he'd never become once this was all over.
"Why, Robin. Why the change of heart?" The man's voice was a tad less sarcastic. Maybe even, interested? Or…
He was getting wise. Shit! Slade was a bloodhound for sniffing out "ne're do well heroics."
"I'm…. Sorry for my behavior, Master –
"You think begging will convince me? You have no guts, because your loyalty STILL lies elsewhere –
"Agh!" Robin's hair was tugged up to look into Slade's menacing, one eye.
"Your heart rate went down, then up. Right before you'd come to this…"
"I…was fighting –
"AghH!" Robin's skull ached with endless wants to come down from his adrenaline high. Shit…. his face…was red?
"Humph, must be a side – effect from the serum. I apologize, but you'll need to be more careful once we land at the port." The teen's scalp was released, but barely, as Slade hadn't finished up with Robin's punishment just then…
"Why…. Master, Slade…...Cough! *…is…It…. a problem….?"
"Oh, not for you, Richard." Slade had rarely used his name unless it were to belittle the teen.
His mask was tugged off, as a rude awakening led Robin to open his eyes in front of his new master.
"There, you are excited to be going back home, aren't you, Dick? But, sorry to say… our base will be a bit farther out than Gotham City."
Robin spat some blood from his mouth out onto his sleeve, he'd be cleaning it off later. It trickled down his chin as Slade never bothered to watch the drop plop onto the deck's polished metal surface.
"Once you've conquered that part of your life, I'll be there to savor every last moment of your imminent betrayal." He brought the boy's chin to look up at him. He'd caught a gem. A real marvel in the making. The blood was still so fresh that it enticed the man to know more. What his prize could bring; the head of a rodent king. The prized bow of a man in tights…
Robin was too emotional in his eyes. That would be useful, for another time. First, the boy had to relinquish all ties to his old life. His identity would soon be reborn, anew. Slade pulled away from the boy and brought his own hand to his masked chin, before returning his sights to the his dazed protégé.
His thoughts exactly. That, could work…maybe…
"Master, Slade?" Worded the meek little lamb at the man's feet.
"Robin."
The boy was to his feet as a good soldier to his commanding office.
"Yes, Master Slade?" The child's vitals were awakened by his own anticipating thoughts. Slade smiled and decided to test his theory out.
"Apprentice?" Slade had his arms behind his back, his favorite pose. He leaned a bit lower to meet Robin's mask - less, star – studded, blue gaze. His grin only gave way as the question came without restraint.
"What do you think of when you hear the name, Ravager?"
Robin looked on and could not understand. His lips parted and half ajar; wondering what he should say, he shook his head softly. Nervously.
Slade's delight in the child's response was horribly sadistic. It was going to happen. He was bound to mold his perfect tool into a perfect weapon of endless potential and a vast knowledge of his profession for decades to come. In a way, Slade had birthed this creature before him. No one else had the right to say, otherwise.
Deathstroke was back, because he'd never truly vanished. Straying from the view of the public eye was more his style. But this time, Robin would have the center ring all to himself.
Slade nodded and could not agree more with his selfless choice for a bit of new blood being unpacked from older tropes.
Clash of the Planets, style. A bit more modern age, however.
Slade smiled and put a hand onto Richard's unwavering shoulder. He had no choice but to go into darkness, to let himself be freed of the shackles Robin had been trained to own up to. Until this very moment.
~ And so, Batman; it has begun. ~
/
Besides a big scare on the big screen, Raven's scare had been as she recovered in the plane, she normally went to so she could balance her powers out after a fight...
~ I have to fix this; I might not know how Slade is using that spell…but Robin has no idea …~
It made sense. She froze up. During their fight with Lightening and Thunder, Slade's insignia had been an S, but that wasn't all.
The disk had WREAKED of dark magic. Not from the west, or the east.
But a dimensional darkness that made you question your own worth.
Raven couldn't put her finger on it, but her memory of that S was very hazy.
Something was forcing her to forget. These powers, that telepathy. It wasn't her imagination. It wasn't just scientific madness Slade had tampered with. No.
It was dark magic.
A very vivid depiction could explain how the nano – bots simply did without any extra effort. They made their subjects' minds ACT. Not simply, REACT. Raven tried to concentrate on the task at hand.
~ He has to be in connection with other dark forces… And Robin is being dragged into his plans…. I have to try to find a way inside…One last –
Raven clutched her skull and heard another voice. One that was happiest to see its host fail miserably. Her whole body became frozen in this time – space field she'd stepped into.
~ There is no escaping this time you've allowed to come to be…My subjects will be delivered…with your absolute surrender –
NO!"
Raven opened her eyes and clutched her sanity tightly. Her chest beating as a titmouse's own. While here, there was NO way that he…could…
"Rave?" Cy knocked on the glass of the orb she'd been assigned to. Raven gasped and threw her hood back over her face. ~I can't let my friends, figure this out yet. ~ The empath dreaded what she'd discovered. GL and Batman would get hurt if they tried to jump in too soon.
Slade, was not the boss in charge of those nightmarish probes.
Someone ELSE had granted him access to another way; on how to get inside a person's mind.
As I he'd made a deal with…
"Raven! You are shaking as much as a tiny trimborfkin!" Starfire rushed up to the glass and let her features sag in desperation, if only she were able to know of Raven's pains. To try to remedy what she could. None could, there wasn't a reason they ever should…But, Starfire remained hopeful. It was something Raven envied of the Tameranean.
Cy rubbed his neck, trying to catch up. "What she said…. Ah, how's Aqualad doing?"
"I'm…. Yaawn*…. Right…. Here…" The black-haired teen yawned loudly and woke with circles under his eyes. He was placed in a watery space that allowed him to come up for air if he needed to do so. Courtesy of the JLA.
"Raven's aura was enough to send us all to Arkham last night…I barely even slept a wink!" He groaned and drifting down to the bottom of his container.
There, they'd stay until an antidote or deactivation whatever could be constructed properly to undo this whole mess for good. Aqualad was a telepath…. Shoot….
Raven gritted her fists and tried to act natural.
"Any luck with locating Slade's next destination point –
"No, we DO have a clue as to where though…But not a definite one." Cy shook his head.
"I can sonar in and maybe get a fellow sea creature to –
"From a shorter distance, maybe." Raven went back to meditating. He was annoyed by the comment, but it was true. His sonar was not for long distance calls off of Earth's atmosphere. They were in space. There was no way to go back without sending him back and letting a walking dead lose on the streets of any U.S city.
They hoped this fight would stay in the US as far as its borders. Or a killer's ambitions to dominate the status quo.
"Are we boring you, friend Raven?"
"No, Starfire." Raven blinked and tried to keep he mind together as she multi – tasked in private. "My powers are somewhat, recovered enough, so I'm going to try to find a way inside of Robin's -
"And get pushed out, again." Aqualad crossed his arms, under water. Bubbles showed from his lips as he spoke.
"I have to try." Raven rejected the hero's warning as she got ready to spill forth her mantra from her pale lips.
~Azarath…...Metrion…Ziiinthos….! ~
She's believed this mind she'd entered into was Robin's but her guess was far off the mark.
The space was dark.
A desk.
A photo of a family on it, with a ….
Her eyes widened. This wasn't Robin's mind...!
~I have to go back. ~
"Can you, really? You came here by yourself, seeking answers that you could not fathom, not on your own."
That voice….!
"I'm not going to let you force your hand on my master plan. If you wish, I'll dismiss this unneeded interaction. Begone. –
Casually, he tried to gather a spell to keep this "demon girl" from biting back. Raven used her craft to stay aloft and out of his arm's way.
~Magic. You're, using magic! ~ Raven was right. Slade had a slew of magical weapons. He was able to adapt in any given setting. Having Raven take the bait was so… -
Slade's face was hidden in shadow. He had the mask in place, but this run in at the dojo was something he'd not anticipated from the goth Titan to handle. His training was adequate, but he could also pick up a few new tricks on how to "beat a demon back to its roots."
~Who's helping you? ~ She demanded to know and put up her walls to avoid a surprise attack. Slade could use the same –
~AgGH! ~
"It's my mind. You should have been smarter than this, Raven. Disappointing." He tutted her as her body fell to the ground. "And I want you gone, now. Permanently, from this space."
He stamped her out of existence. The black hole below Raven's feet tugged her in in a familiar way that her powers could –
And then.
AND THEN.
She SAW Slade; his one eye an eerie, bright red as he watched her be taken far away. Slade was psychically guarding his mind. Yet, he had some help. Raven shouted out as she was about to be sent back into her own body.
~ ROBIN…. HE'S GOING to be free of you…. You DON'Tcontrol any of us, so watch your mind, closely… SLADE…. ~ She smirked, letting Slade's eyes squint as much as it liked at the "wiser" warrior.
He'd left a bigger clue, as had she - and that had the man look over his shoulder at the photo frame on the male's work - desk.
He scowled at her and lifted up a palm to close the vortex for good.
"Robin, doesn't want to see you anymore." He said this as one word was heard above all else.
To see, was to believe in the possibility of one's own desires come to light.
Robin, had also been full of pride. Slade had taken that oath of the Bat's to make Raven think harder about the outcome.
She'd just keep fighting, there was nothing that could magically chance this fate of her ally's. Robin didn't know it, but Raven could sense if someone was lying through the color of their aura.
And Slade's aura, was telling her just that.
/
Raven's episode was fine and dandy, but in the eye in the sky for Richie Foley, he'd seen better tech in his dad's garage than this –
Well, he was getting a boost in his field. He'd even spoken to Static about getting BACKPACK to work with them a bit more on their patrols. He'd be rollin' in style. The suit could wait. The lock was on and Richie was maybe the second person to get a hit –
"I'm being hacked?"
The hacker was not just good, he was stellar.
This could have been a program or AI pushing him to the brink, but Richie didn't back down. He threw at the thing all of his untapped desire to best it, and his wit – he stuck down one key with a satisfied grin…
A power outage.
He'd downed that much?
His files were safe, but someone was sending…
"Aww…. I'd better get Virg for this…. Holy cow!" He grinned and knew that jargon; it was Robin. He'd gotten in. He'd –
/
Robin threw his hands to the keys and nearly collapsed. Slade was by the door applauding this decadent feeling of betrayal. Clapping so that Richard would drop his guard. Robin's brow was beaded in sweat, and his hands shook for more. Another go, and another chance to challenge his limits.
"Hmm, are you going to send them on a wild goose chase?" Slade asked form his position overlooking his breathless protégé. He'd stopped clapping.
"I…Did as you ordered, Master Slade." Robin said, while still panting.
"You did very well; but the rest is yet to pass. You'll need to be ready for any attacks they'll likely throw our way. These 'newer' heroes are trying to impress the Justice League. Thing is…We could use a mind on the inside. Don't you agree, Apprentice?"
"I…. think Flash was fine for –
"He's quick, but not what we want. The League has him in custody. Barry, however... He can hack; only if he's in a lab under some corporate head to praise his efforts. NO." Slade said this a bit louder and walked up to the screen. "We want." Slade's super focus was up to maximum. Getting ansty over a simple hacker. Why?
Slade zoomed in on Richie's face. His breath was hot against the back of Robin's neck as he pressed down on the monitor's screen to zoom in on the blonde's bright - eyed appearance. Robin clenched the monitor with his gloved fingers. His grip was plastered. He felt disgusting, under the male's looming gaze – but not on him, this time.
"To be inconspicuous, we'll have to take a chance. You'll take care of them both for your master, won't you…. Richard?" Robin gulped back his distress to his from the man.
"As long as the Titans think that YOU took out that hoodlum from before, it will serve as some good practice for my apprentice. A lesson in thinking on your feet." Slade egged on with his tormenting reminder, while Robin did recall what he'd witnessed. More than he would have liked.
He believed Robin would continue to impress him, even when an unwilling subject of his misdeeds.
Slade's bots had killed the male on the video clip. He'd not put his two cents in to save anyone, but himself. His friends. He could still be labeled as an accomplice. He could still be just as guilty as any villain out on the streets of Gotham.
"Yes, Master Slade." Robin decided to fix things before two more lives tasted the man's metal blade. His licked his lips to add.
"I'll invite them, to join our game."
"Good boy." Robin's shoulder was patted as thanks. The man waited for the teen to find his own breath again and rejoin his master outside.
"The ship will be docking, momentarily." Slade said with the door to his back. "We can't risk being spotted, or your family's reputation won't just be what loses face." It wasn't a real threat; Slade was probably, purposely holding back. Robin had to have enough momentum to carry out his next mission. No distractions. He had this in the bag.
"You'll be able to use a computer at he next base to send your little message to Static's unit. Afterwards, we'll proceed to Star City's business district for a showdown even you wouldn't want to refuse."
Slade's eye was wider at even you; as if Robin had a clue what that meant!...
"Wait…Are you going after –
"I should tell you now Richard, before you get too cocky and try to escape. My target isn't only Batman. I have a bone to pick with one, Green Arrow." He tapped his mask where the man's missing eye stood as empty as his sympathy for those around him.
"I've come to return the favor. And no. He didn't take my eye from me, if you were wondering. Arrow owes ' Deathstroke' a fair rematch from our last time going at each others throats."
Richard didn't bother to add anything, he just nodded and listened with his heart silently thumping in his chest.
"Slade…. That wasn't only your alias, in Jump you…" Robin shuffled back slowly as Slade faced him. His suit was different too. How had he missed that? Was it something Slade…right….it had been dark? He'd been on a damn boat for days now…
"Sorry, but your focus was on my voice. The serum made things difficult back there…but I promise." Slade came towards Dick with his eye shining back like a big cat's gleaming in intrigue or curiosity for its next victim of the hour.
"You'll get to face his side – kick, I'll even release some of that power for you to –
"No…not, Speedy? –
Robin's breathing hitched.
Slade's eye dimmed as Robin sputtered hopelessly in protest to his master's face. He was regressing again. Time to shake the boy a bit from his former delusions. He would be of little use to Slade; hulled up in the brig for the rest of their journey.
"I'm not turning Speedy over to you." Robin steadily added with his fists up. His breathing in focus thanks to the nano- bots monitoring his heart rate.
Slade sighed and decided to feign his own emotions a bit. The boy's 'fighting back' was, redundant to say, and Slade hadn't even told Robin the best part.
"I wasn't taking about Speedy. Did you think I'd want him in my arsenal?"
"That's –
"You left out; Black Canary, Manhunter…I have the pick of the litter." Robin's heart poured out to his allies.
"I'm going after Queen Industries, for personal reasons," He hinted that Arrow's identity was child's play. A lump in Dick's throat revisited him. And to the boy's dismay, it refused to leave him be this time.
~ Ollie…. Roy…~
"Then, what about… Speedy?"
Slade rubbed his chin in deep thought. More mind games. Robin braced himself for his next order.
"Hmm… I want you to subdue him, and then kill him."
Robin's fists tightened.
"No!" He barked back, his gritted teeth letting Slade know that his loyalty could not be shaken that soon.
"It would have you to avoid using those powers." Slade hinted with his hands behind his back as he paced around the boy. Robin's position wavered. He was afraid, even...
"You'd rather not see him suffer. Otherwise, I'll have a second target on my hands to deal with. And another dead Titan for you to openly mourn."
"Slade…please –
"Sorry, it's simply business. I'm not deciding to take out Speedy for my own gain, no. Don't forget - That there is always a smple solution, little detective. " Slade shrugged his shoulders and put up his hands, defeated by another reason that he'd not likely disclose to the teen.
"Deathstroke is a man of his word," Robin said. "By your code…. his code…. That "reason" only lets him kill for a profit or for some ulterior motive that benefits him." Robin swallowed and recited.
"Batman has fought you. That story was messy he told us, and a remember Harley Quinn singing your praises on one of our missions -
"Oh, I'm touched you recall that. Really, but Robin?" Slade's eye narrowed before his hands splayed out to point at their next stop.
"We've arrived, and I suggest you pack your bags; this boat is slated to detonate in 2 minutes - before we've reached the pier."
"WHAT?" Robin shrieked back, with his mind on the device; the bots were already going for every secret plot point and mechanism. He'd been distracted? How had they –
"Our speed boat is on the way. Have your clothing, oh! Thank you." The nanny bot bowed as Slade scooped up Robin's new outfit inside of a cloth duffle bag that was granted to him and tossed it to the teen. He fumbled to catch what remained of his worn pride. Like that ugly duffel bag.
Robin's mask and uniform could be swapped into later, once they'd found the safe house. He'd also packed away the boy's old cowl and outfit to use in a later twist. Robin was going to surprise them all. Dressed as a civilian, Slade had yet to take off his mask.
A sea - side pier was where big bad business could take place. Mafia, dealers, covert ops. He was just a part of the big picture, now. However, they were closer to Cali? Going from city to city, none of it matched up! Gotham was all the way back by Central and Bluudhaven! What was this hopping around for?
Slade had Robin jostled by the nanny bot to move as quickly as his could to the edge of the ship. Slade was there too, and the boat for their departure was ready to roll over the waves in an instant.
"But…The employer that you –
"We had an arrangement made, that's none of your concern. For now, brace yourself." Slade did not hesitate to grab Robin by the arm as the two fell towards the speed boat. Robin didn't even have time to scream from the high drop. Not with Slade right beside him. The man could box the kid for putting him in a bad mood, since he already was…
The bots caught the two men and kept them from toppling into the waves below as they'd made contact with the drifting vessel. Robin shook any excess water from his scalp, as Slade chuckled at the kid's display. Richard was as loyal as a puppy following its master. It was cute to picture. For a sociopath.
Dazed, the drop would have killed a normal person, but the two were near - immortal. They could handle a steep cliff fall into shark infested waters...
Slade knew that exaggeration meant nothing to him. Robin blinked and was too busy processing the situation in his head. Slade decided to put the boy's worries to rest as they traveled, and in the background –
Slade grunted.
"DOWN!"
Robin yipped*unprepared, as Slade threw his body over his Apprentice's muffled form. Robin's eyes stayed wide open from the shock of the explosion. The bots had instinctively shielded themselves partly, knowing of the danger they were programed to avoid coming into contact with. The boat sped on, while Robin's body was fragile; he wouldn't stop quaking…it had been so close! His glasses had almost fallen into the water...
"We'll be flying to the next city, no need to shake over it." Slade let the crackle of flames sooth his tired soul as Robin couldn't find the same peace in that horrifying crunch of metal and flame within those vast waters they had traveled across. "Easy for you to say…I still don't even have any armor." The boy muttered to himself.
"In a way, I was your shield this time."
As if the teen's only cover had been a measly cape. Slade felt as if he'd been rejected by one ofhis long list of lovers. Robin didn't fit the bill. He put on a coat over his uniform, A similar but less bulky design than the Ikon suit or the uniform in Jump's territory.
Robin huffed and tried to stay at the other side of the tiny speed boat, away from the man as his master's robotic drones steered the craft to dock it.
Slade finally took his mask away to replace it with a second. Robin;s view was blocked by a Slade bot. Slade let the rubber add on slip right over his fce, beard and all as Robin frowned at the missed advantage he'd been granted. Slade chuckled and had the teen sniff at the act that his master was putting on.
"Next time, you'll have to get creative if you want to save yourself." Slade dismissed the boy's defiant words with his own warning, and didn't speak much more after that ordeal had turned south for both master and apprentice.
/
Roy wasn't fond of catching up in calculus, trig, or even physics. The pretty, rich boy was just sitting with a slice of pizza outside, watching the cars go by. It was his day off, but it felt like a time to pause. To wonder and wait in silence.
~I can't focus. ~ He groaned and had the reeling urge to put down his lunch and join the League; a missing person, looked as if his rival really had it coming.
He'd heard about this madness from Arrow. His mentor had tried to keep mum on the issue, but Roy had found a way to intercept the message Ollie had sent to Gotham. Wally West was currently in the League's custody. The two Titans West members were also up in the Watchtower. Raven and Aqualad.
And…
Flash. The Flash. He was apparently taken down by an enemy of the League. Arrow had looked miserable just putting it all into words as Bruce stayed, brooding over the incidents in the back of his mind. The news had continuously piled up as papers on Oliver Queen's desk. Back at Queen Industries, he was fighting another battle of epic proportions.
Roy could only dig deeper behind his family's back not only to satisfy his curiosity.
Black Canary had been kind enough to keep an eye on the Titans, but Harper wasn't so sure this wasn't connected. She was in love with Arrow, so there was no way he'd not be ratted out for trying to play 00782. (007)
His phone rang, and the red head plucked up the device with another lazy groan. Ollie was calling to check up on him. He didn't need a baby sitter…but the male was relentless.
"Yello?"
~Roy, you have to get off the streets. We've just had word that the man at large is in this city. He's come to Star and I don't want you in the killer's line of fire. They just were spotted by a drone only a few hours off; by the water –
"Calm down, Ollie. It's not like we're facing baneBane or houldLobo. Should we investigate –
~NO! ~ Ollie snapped at his ward, making Roy jump and cover his ears in his seat by that the shrill reprimand.
~This killer is contracted mostly, but today he's out for blood and I'm probably not his only target. You've heard about Deathstroke the Terminator, right? We had a brawl back in –
"You wouldn't stop yapping on to Dinah about your victory!" Complained the teen, as he leaned back into his seat, slouching and rubbed his sore temples. "Have a bit of modesty, much?"
~ Cocky, coming from a real model hero, Speedy. ~
"Hush it! I'm not dragging my ass until I've gotten –
~You've been hacking my systems to gather data on this crime. I'm not blind, ya' know. ~
"No... I've been checking in on the Titans, if you even bothered to see my log history –
~With, Dinah? ~
Both men were silent for a moment. Ollie broke the silence with a sigh of his own.
~Look. The man the League is after, is Arrow's enemy as much as he is anyone else's, but I "tragically" made our meeting a personal one -
"No shit, Sherlock." Roy snorted. "Now he's gotten ballsey enough for a round two. And, Dick –
~Lower your voice. ~
Roy scowled and tried to do that, but found his desire to shit on Robin's rep, an to piss off his mentor, irresistible. Though, he refused to play the jealous teen rival. Time, was a – wastin' away as they sat here, debating on what came next.
"Rob is out of his cape – wearing mind…!" Roy hissed into the phone. "Why's he not trying harder t –
~Deathstroke's plan is still under League discussion. ~ Ollie shut Roy down a moment to answer. His rivalry had to be the worst; even Arrow and Batman never sneered as much as those two did. He'd seen it when the kids first butted heads. Bats was after a lead, and Robin was on his worst behavior.
Two, spoiled rich idiots. It had broken Bruce's last nerve to see his ward behaving like a delinquent in his presence. The first time too, which meant that Ollie's ward had gotten under Dick's skin to begin with…
Ballsey, indeed.
After that, the two stayed apart for good. Until now, that was…
~ We believe that he has some sort of device or serious tech that allows him to control other meta – humans and heroes. And it keeps Robin from flying off from the man's watch. ~
"Flash, and the Titans." Roy felt his stomach churn. Rob…. "He'd gotten too far into the moment, too deep, and now he was trapped with a deadly killer at his throat. Great…Way to go screw up the lives of the rest of us, bat – brat…"
Queen ignored the lament, and proceeded to speak. J'onn Jones was still on the lookout for where the targets' footprints and heat signatures were still fresh in the heroes' minds. He could trust his ally to keep Slade's number, while Dinah took out the base the man was probably warming up outside city limits.
~Deathstroke's somehow infected them all with something that would have taken the heroes' lives, but he's using that same threat to keep Robin in line. A medical marvel picked up illegally from S.T.A.R labs over a month ago…He had this to a T. I knew that bastard had it out for Batman, but this is low... Even under his code as an assassin for hire. It just, doesn't make any sense…~
Ollie rubbed his goatee and couldn't put his finger on it. Now that Roy had a clue, he could back off and let the grown ups settle this mess in peace. But...
Minus the mindless blood – shed, Slade Wilson would leave hell in his wake if word got out. It was only a matter of time.
"What can we really do, then? I can't stand by and let my rival "of all people" drag us up into his revenge drama –
~You can work behind the scenes with Black Canary, but don't overstep your boundaries; Slade is not to be trusted, and knowing his hold on Batman's ward, he could use Robin to get information or have us drop our guard. He'll likely go after you, so don't hold back. ~
"Bats is in for a killer reunion and funeral same day of, if we don't put Deathstroke away before anything else goes wrong." Roy frowned and scratched his cheek. His pizza was already ice cold. Shit.
~It already has, and Slade knows it. We're being targeted by a man labeled as the "deadliest assassin in the world." He's killed immortals, and I'm just hoping to wipe that smug look off his face before he attacks any more of our friends on his mini - march across the States. You'd better have your eyes open twenty-four seven. ~ Arrow's voice was serious.
"What about home? Are we safe? Dinah? Is she –
~If he touches either of you, I won't hesitate to break my code of ethics on the spot. His spine is as good as mangled, should he cross that line. Roy, just don't worry so much. Trust in the league to keep the man off our backs until then. ~ The adult tried to reassure this, but Speedy's skin crawled at the thought of his mentor having to stoop to his enemy's level. Slade played games too. The stories were true.
He could drive a man to kill, and a hero to lose his shit.
/
