Teen Titans; The Fighting Life – Epilogue Story – Chapter 19: Heartless; Outdoing You

/

Slade had one last stop to make. He held his apprentice under his arm; who was regaining his clarity as time passed, and the briefcase with the candy – drug stayed j-l[=snuggly within his other hand.

As the face of an old foe made its way round the dark corner, Deathstroke came to a skidding halt.

"We got rid of the competition! See? I told my pals you have er' backs, Death…We ready to see the rest of your, sale?"

Deathstroke came up to the eager male; a crime boss who'd wanted any copy – cat off his turf, Black Mask. The light suit he wore was all proper business, for a mobster. He must have been smug as hell below his selfish mug.

His masked one, as it were.

"Heh, you turned the tables in there. Bats was spooked as shit! Oh, sorry. Watching my language around your –

"He'll not be coherent enough for this, not to fret." Slade said this casually and brought Richard to lean against a wall by his side.

The briefcase, but he'd not only be having that. Blockbuster had already paid this piper. Black Mask probably thought the contract was nullified since he was the one who'd arranged the shot. Slade had just given the time and place. It had been an acid filled turn out for them both. Three, counting Dick.

"Good…. That's a pretty color, like blood? Ya' said it had tech involved to make an even bigger impact."

Black mask oogled the shining glass viles inside the case, before Slade snapped it shut to prove a point.

"Five million. This deal will be bought and sold, if you comply to these terms."

The other villain let out a whistle by the price tag. "I did not think the merc an' freelancer had gone loan shark…Damn…Well, we can always talk more business back at my place –

"No, time; the clock is ticking." Slade Wilson's eye narrowed dangerously at the streets ahead of him.

"We'll be shut down, and no sale will happen. That's my final offer. Take it…Or you'll have nothing."

Slade waved the case up in front of this mediocre hound dog.

"Ok, you've convinced me, Death." The chuckling goof let up his arms to surrender to the man's valuable investment. "I'll wire it, you have my word...Done. Happy? But, your end now?" Black mask's cell device pinged, indicating his monetary trade had been verified.

"Very well." Slade passed the silver case over to the distinguished crime lord. "The four doses can be duplicated as well, even altered slightly. Though, I wouldn't suggest going so far as to –

"Don't worry, Slade baby…" Right now, the male looked to be the "kid with his shiny new hover board."

What about the candy? Maybe he wasn't a fan of Gob – Stoppers?

"Take the full green and go get your prentice' or whatever a good time. He'd pretty small for a killer –

"That won't be the the half of his case, in a few years time." Slade turned to scoop up the now waking bird. "Nameless, can you stand."

"Y – yes. Master Slade…" The boy partly groaned as Slade saw his protégé's dormant body radiating below the skin to heal up from the placebo' initial damage. And the added alcohol might have prolonged the serum's activation.

"Good sport. Hope he doesn't die in the field like your last mini - me." Black Mask's eyes went up to the rooftops.

A siren? A patrol team?

"Did you?" He gawked at the kingpin in this place.

"No. Someone else must have gotten the message. though..." Slade snorted and leaned his protégé a bit up against the wall to regain his standing.

"Well, hell if I can stay an' be tazed like er' buddies. Call me when ya get outta the slammer? Kisses, Slade and baby merc!"

The man rushed down an alleyway as soon as…

"Come, Apprentice. We're almost –

"Stop right there, Deathstroke!"

Not police officers, no…Right now, that was too easy. Slade stood tall and had Richard to his eye. They'd just let the man take his share, until things got hairier.

Seems his prediction wasn't far off the mark.

Batman, Cyborg, Beastboy, Arsenal…and the new Tarantula….

They'd decided to knock him off his high horse. Not tonight. He needed to wipe the grime off of both of them.

"Take one more step, and you're finished, Slade." Roy's anger was keeping him lethal with his new gettup to cement that fact. He aimed his arrows at the other masked killer. Not hesitating to pull a Green Arrow impression in front of the equally dangerous, Dark Knight.

"After that fun fiasco, I was hoping you'd have stayed for the after party…Slade…" Tarantula didn't lower her sharp gaze to him or anyone. "After all, you weren't the only guest of honor. Your captive, was there to do more than entertain those for your own underhanded interests. And, I'm guessing he'd like to go home about now."

"My thoughts exactly, so we'd best not delay the inevitable." Slade got ready to rip his twin swords out.

One sword, the rest would fall swiftly - but first?

"He's got a remote!"

"I don't need that toy anymore, Beast kid." Slade corrected and shut his eyes. He'd safe guard his most precious treasure from their grubby paws.

"SECURE. VALIDATION. HOLD. GUARDED. SAFE…. INNACT…NOW!"

Richard's bots activated as he became untouchable, all to his master Slade's hands that could free him from the extra added security once they'd made it to safety.

"Titans, go!" Cy led the attack as he and Batman used as much force with cannon, rang, and two arrows that Slade dodged with ease. As the snake he was, he had to make the fight look decent.

/

Like his Ikon suit, Robin's implanted force field was bright red from the bot's protection, and the tech that kept him to behave like an actual weapon. An object of destruction, that made all the difference for the loyal dark Knight. He was furious.

Slade swiftly overturned the battle and decided to twist the Bat's vision a bit. The Bat could drag him under, but this wasn't his show to upstage.

Wilson dragged Robin to stand as the two fled down the same dark alley as Black Mask, who looked to be panting on ahead, clinging to his newest fix.

"Ah! You're gonna mess this up! Damn it! Death is your name, but I'm not losin –

"I don't think the world is ready for such a sophisticated trinket. You'll aide in our escape just as well…"

Slade shot off his guns at a bunch of rotting wooden beams right above his accomplice's head.

"Wh – you sonova!! –

The beams fell, and Richard's speed had returned to have him on par with his master's steps. Slade counted his luck for having found a perfect in the Batman's ward.

The Titans screamed well behind them, as Robin fought the urge to look back and see….

"Don't. We're only feet from the next warehouse. Come. Don't search for another reason to disappoint me."

"Yes, Master…" Robin nodded as they climbed the next fire escape to the highest rooftop.

The Titans and bat…weren't following…

Dick looked out at the smoke ridden horizon. The sun was starting to come up, and the night of ghouls and tools, was over.

"Master Slade." Richard turned to his master as the man looked unscathed by the events.

Not even a scratch, as he dusted off his uniform with a swift flick of his gloved fingers.

"Did we mean to kill Black Mask? Was that drug so important that he was…?"

"It's contents of that particular case…Were all placebos."

Robin's eyes grew a bit from the pressure of his ears popping, the truth finally coming out.

"Then, there was no real mind – control drug?"

"On the contrary, Apprentice." Slade stood in his favorite pose with his voice a bit steadier, playfully dancing round their unnamed victory.

"I did sell my product, even though a hit was ordered on Blockbuster BY his opponent, who is now also either deceased or near dying. We won't be in Bluudhaven long enough to see the front page on his unlucky, accident – BUT." Slade stopped his protégé from asking anymore. They still needed to find proper cover. The probes' protective net had ben deactivated upon their mad dash to freedom. However, Cyborg could track it if he used half of his brain –

Slade had a good seventy percent more of his own to value.

"I DID say I'd be selling to the very highest, bidder…And, do you know what that means for us?"

Robin shook his head, unsure of what the man was planning.

"It… Was just a way to advertise. Nothing less. The real investor of ours is, safe somewhere in Metropolis, looking out for any potentially global "takers" to have the Taffy a success as planned."

"Metropolis…."

Richard froze. "Then, they weren't supposed to…. Do you m-

"No more spoilers, for today." Slade came to the child and gripped his lax chin to look up at the man's masked eye. "That performance was exceptional. I'm glad to call you my apprentice…And in time, a partner of sorts to help run this vast empire I'm wanting build."

"Thank you, m- master..." Richard blushed. He felt, something there. Guilt still, maybe? Beastboy could be hurt, or Bruce.

"If you need me, use me, Dick." Slade moved his thumb over the boy's side of his face, his own mask was brought up to reveal his white goatee and patch.

His words like a touching fire, a soft lantern to his dark world. The one he'd helped to craft by this ingenious scheme in the first place.

"Use me; bury their existence until all of the guilt goes away. I'm here to make things, better." He purred to the child, who nodded and gripped the man's gloved fingers into his own. "Yeah…. Please, master…I…"

Slade saw the child's distress and didn't pity him, but he knew how to remedy this Stockholm spell he'd cast around his protégé's shivering heart.

"As you wish…Come, this is no place for a proper, tryst between comrades." Slade saw how the boy almost longed to be at his side, for all eternity if he had to keep the pain at bay.

"I'll be by your side again, let us return home now..."

"Yes, of course…Master Slade." Richard nodded and they leaped to the next rooftop. The sun in his eyes, Richard felt shunned by the day; he was better off where the light could not touch him, could not pull him back in to that previous role. He wanted to stay hidden from it.

A bit longer, and the eternal hurt would be no more.

~ I'll use up my strength, all of it...to destroy the one person who's ever made me feel this sickly…this used up…~

Richard narrowed his gaze at the infamous Deathstroke.

~ That means; once I'm as good a scumbag as you…. We're finished. I hope you're ready to lose your apprentice…so, get ready…. Monster…. ~

Yet, who was the monster? Slade thought it was just his job to kill, as if living and breathing validated his warped excuses for what he had done to the boy that night.

And for what Richard was about to beg for.

A second chance to see his enemy, bare himself willingly to Dick…. To love him in order to be his morphine for a while.

No. Not for love.

No, because Slade was heartless. He could never feel any affection towards his tools.

But, in order to take the man down…Dick had to try.

He had to try to please the man in any way that he could….

To have the man's head one day rolling at his feet.

Only then, would he finally be freed of his darkest demons.

Only then. Would he be willing to let go of this life, for good.

Forever.

He could finally just, let go.

/

He was carried bridal style into the man's haunt. Hugging his master's thick neck like a scared brat who'd woken from a terrifying nightmare. A child; one who didn't know how to keep the monsters at bay without, some close - enough comfort.

That was what he'd asked for, and so?

That, he would receive.

Tonight.

He'd screamed out his lungs the last time.

He'd bled desire in all shades across the bed spread.

Robin, had been red breasted beneath the man; his growing fire, a brand against the kid's inflated ego.

Handling the pain then, had meant that more pain had to overlap. He would not accept WHY Slade had made the boy swear the oath. Nor why he'd been initiated so cruelly and roughly by the esteemed killer's blood-soaked hands.

Tonight, Richard wanted a trade, even the bots weren't in charge of his actions. They only added to his already beating heart, but the gusto was all Dick's.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Slade made sure to let Dick know that he didn't have to rush his choices as the boy was plopped onto the sheets. Now creamy white, from out of the fresh wash.

"I'm going to feel more pain, tomorrow…And…No. I want this. To heal, w- with your h-help. "Richard said this with somewhat of a stutter, as if reliving….

Well, the memory had ached until his bum had healed, plenty.

"We'll go slower this time…And, I promise…" Slade purred in the boy's ear as his steel-clad mask fell at the foot of the bed. Chucked for this one, monumental encounter.

"You'll finally see things my way…." He leaned in and held the boy, taking his lips into his own and trying to churn up the child's pent - up emotions as best he could.

He could only DO his best, and Slade never turned down a challenge. No matter how impossible the task.

Unless it clashed with his moral code, then this was just below him…however, Robin didn't think so and kissed back.

He riveted by the attachment; it was already becoming an unquestionable reality. Their heads spun as the boy soon found himself –

Naked, nearly. Only left in his underwear.

"Um…!"

Slade saw the kid as he pulled away, the PTSD was still vivid and this…. wasn't the way he'd let it happen.

Not a second time.

Slade spoke calmly to the child at his mercy.

"I have an idea; move over."

Richard frowned and got to his knees. He shifted as the older man now lay against the pillow mound at the head of the bed, his body flat – lain on his back against the cushy mattress.

"I'll save you from your pain for tonight. This lesson, will be about trust. Come, show me that you can surpass the master one day, Dick." He coaxed the boy to crawl onto his chest. Such a young and lean frame could do little damage; such a powerful meta – human could do much more to another of the same received meta- genes.

"Master…what is –

He rephrased his question with a feel of fingers shakily aching against the older man's roughened, pectorals.

"What, am I supposed to do?.."

Slade smiled and put his hands behind his head, weaving them there with a mind full of plans for the boy to awaken to his desires, should he pursue another tryst with his willing master.

Slade's white haired tail had been cut a bit shorter, so the use of it would not be to tug at the reigns during any foul horseplay.

Robin's hair was not coming over his ears yet, but Dick kept it down without the need to use that horrible hair gel he'd been addicted to. Slade would have Richard learn the proper grooming techniques that were a necessity to any assassin. Including, a close shave.

His apprentice's unmasked eyes glistened; as he'd almost cried again from trying not to be the "bottom."

Slade touched his protégé's cheek and ran a thumb over his lip like before on the rooftop.

He saw the boy's awe as Robin did not to try and run, but grasped at the man's head of hair as that smooth dip down into his master's bare chest, was a bold move.

Slade decided to start, so he shuffled a bit and let the boy rock into a new position.

Between his knees.

Slade's member was withheld by his white and grey boxers, while Richard still had yet to remove his.

"Maybe…we should….?"

Slade tried to have the child use his head.

~ Wet, think wetter. ~

Richard 's lips were wet enough, but he still didn't know how to…please and wasn't sure if he should –

But…If it were to get close, he'd have to play the hero…

Richard noticed the older man's cock was rather lively. Or, that it was about to be as it twitched – knocking the poor teen back onto his ass.

"Hey!" He exclaimed while Slade only laughed from his side of the mattress.

"Try to think outside the box, Apprentice."

~ His…that was…who again? ~

"Master…I…"

"You require some assistance to get started? At first, you'll learn plenty - by the way that only I can teach you."

Slade pointed to his cock and in that instance, had the boy's scalp grabbed as he sat himself up.

Dick looked into the man's blue – grey one eye and gulped. The pain, it still…Wanted to be…

He shuddered at the male's cool expression.

"You'll just have to try a bit harder to please your master, Apprentice. You see; the man's –

"I know! But…"

"It isn't yours, is that it?" Slade nodded and had an idea.

"You don't like this pain, so why don't we try to see what your body will like? Hmm?" He let go of the kid's hair to dig into his side - dresser drawer.

Richard lowered his head and flushed red, embarrassed by how this was such a worry to him.

"Having already been taken by me, you would be questioning everything. But…we have ways to overcome this little obstacle." He tugged out a clinking vile of a similar style, to the…

Richard's mouth went bone dry again.

Slade poured a bit of the sample size into his hand to cup it.

It wasn't KYZ Jelly like on the commercials. Oh no.

"Here."

In Slade's hand was now a small drop of fluid…. With a pink hue that looked to pool inside the man's outstretched palm. "Lick this, it will relax you." Slade directed in a softer voice.

"Drugs, why do you have –

"Not a drug." Slade stopped the boy from having more regrets. "Trust your master, Richard. I promise. You won't feel a thing…Now…Take a sip from my palm and rid your pain from this session. You want to continue, but you just aren't sure how to open up to me.."

Robin licked his lips and decided to stomach the liquid passion …whatever it was.

~I'll throw it up in the toilet later. ~ He promised himself, and poked his tongue out to lap at the man's flesh.

Softer than he would have guessed, like jelly…He held it in his cheeks and swished.

Cotton candy. Strawberries…raspberry…..and…

Passion.

His body started to tingle all over. It didn't want this to end, he had to swallow…but –

"What's the problem? Are you stuck, apprentice?" Slade massaged the boy's jaw as he pinched the kid's nose with one swift movement. Robin bucked a bit, but he was in his master's firm grasp, unable to force his master to do anything he wanted.

"Swallow. There's a good boy…. That's right, perfect." Slade watched as Richard swallowed the pink jelly – like substance slowly, letting it travel down into his intestines to get his fire all warmed up upon their union to come.

"How does it feel?" Slade wanted Richard to report the feeling, to explain it as he could. He rubbed a thumb to his apprentice's pulsing lower lip. Richard gasped at the strange sensation. So, enhanced…

Richard though, felt as if time weren't moving as before.

Everything was…

Really, really….

Slade kissed him, and he moaned at the man's embraces. He wanted to feel it…deeply –

A false look, and as if he'd not gotten enough of the taste on his tongue, a part of Robin rebelled.

/

He pushed back and looked confused, lost about the events, as if…

He'd given up.

"You're not going to finish this." Slade wiped his own lip and went to gather his items after a brief pause.

The room had grown quiet, again.

"Wait!..." Robin called out weakly but still clearly enough, to make the assassin in the bed stir.

"You're not ready for this lesson yet. I can tell." He was convinced that Richard had just sucked out the influence of his old heroic self and had spat it out elsewhere while this "regressive" version took hold.

"I'm still me, the serum –

"Ah, well. That explains the attitude adjustment. But not you're response to what I have to offer." The man scoffed and tried to rise anyway. He needed a –

"Let me go with you. To Gotham."

"What makes you so sure you're not invited?" Slade raised a brow and had his mask back up in his large hands. He'd not need it tonight.

"Are you going back –

"I've not taken a decent shower since that gritty turmoil in the underground city of Bluudhaven ruined our time slot …" Sneering at the looks those patrons, the scene had made the stuffy elder cringe.

"Then…. May I, go too?"

Slade raised his eye to the kid as Robin fidgeted with his boxers.

"You just turned down performing a blowjob, are you sure that's what you're after? Not a hot bath instead?"

"That would be nice…" Robin cleared his throat, still red in the face from that left-over jelly sitting in his stomach.

Slade threw a stray hand to his hardened temples and groaned out a sigh. "You really have my hands tied, today –

"They don't have to be." Hinted the quiet boy in the older man's bed. "Maybe all I need is a change of pace, to learn to trust you…"

/

The water ran God - awful scalding. This was NOT a good idea. But…

To be kicked out now, he'd never know. He had to try harder. His old self was afraid, but Dick needed to get Slade to trust him. All of it. All of his plans, and…

It was a total risk that could leave him numb, but the serum prevented any scars on his heart from properly forming.

~There is no such thing as Rape to a super – soldier. A fake Immortal man like him is just…...not going to listen to reason…. ~

~Unless I get on his side. ~ Richard tried to let his towel off, but just so he could allow the zen style onsen inside Slade's haunt…. to...liberate them both. He found he had trouble parting with it.

"I'm going to go in first." Slade said this while readying his shampoos and oils for later.

Oils that were not only for the bath, tonight.

"You may join me once I've done so." It was a command. Richard took the hint and nodded. Becoming more the underling to this superior officer of his very sanctity in hell, a salute or urge to bow was a difficult habit to break from.

"Thank you, sir…Master." Richard saved himself as he let the word slip by.

Slade didn't seem to mind it that much and went to dip a toe into the water before climbing into the square bath altogether.

He went under the water to get wet all over, then came up from the pool to stare at Robin from the edge's shallowest side.

"Are you coming in or are you going to stand outside all night, gawking?"

He asked the boy, who hurried to loose his towel and lost his grip once already by the ledge. You couldn't drown in a Japanese bathhouse…could you?

"Haa!" He came up, but his shoulder had a hand pulling the teen out of the sediment strong waters.

"You didn't practice doing this once in your life - did you, rich kid?"

Robin shook his head, furrowing his brow.

"Have you ever been to an open-air bath before, Dick?" Slade frowned and let the boy wipe the excess water from his clear blue eyes, coughing out the rest as he took a few deep breaths to recover from the minor incident. His bedraggled black mop made the boy look like a drowned puppy.

Slade helped the kid readjust himself by the ledge to get the hang of –

"You thought I'd trade my secrets for a kiss…How tasteless of you, little detective…"

From behind him, Robin could feel something large moving in the water.

/

He attempted to flee the pool, yet was dragged back under – the water covered the crown of his skull, while being forced to beat at the bath's foamy top, as he thrashed about for another way to breathe.

"Then, love for someone like you or I, is impossible. Isn't it?" Slade purred as he said it; the jig was –

"So!" Slade brought the boy up for air. His apprentice gasped hard and coughed out of his lungs to return to the land of the living.

No sooner had he salvaged the boy's present self, Slade twisted Richard around to face him; the dizzy spell was mostly from the wafting steam overtop the pool that had him disillusioned a bit.

Robin's wide eyes were tricked; in disbelief as his hope AGAIN was shattered over top his poor defenseless skull. Slade looked him over, patch and all. "I have another idea where no one has to lose this time. Again; It's a game. You'll understand the rules, and it won't be all that difficult to learn…"

/

"It is something you've probably seen in a naughty video, once. If not, it will give you the edge you need to one day beat me at my own game. Do you want to know how to play?"

"Ah, …I…. What…game?"

The boy was still presumably stricken dumb by the shock of being half drowned.

"You could say, that for every dare, another speaks his or her own truth. Have you heard of a dare that makes players cut themselves, or a card game that has a portion of clothing –

"We are already…Are you suggesting, that I…?"

Richard wracked his brain for what this "game" implied. Would it involve methods of torture? Countless threats?

"What is it you're after?" Richard demanded to know, shakily.

Slade cocked his head at Robin's bright blue to ask. "Isn't that what I should be asking you. What? Is it something vital from my past? My home life before becoming your arch – nemesis in Jump City?…Or….is it a way back to the ones who won't take you, once they find what you and I…have been UP to."

"But…they'd tried to save me, anyway…My team…Bruce would never…"

"Never, say never." Tutted the man with a stray finger in the air. "If Wayne found out that you'd been clinging to the enemy like a devoted lover, what do you think he'd say? That being a Titan was a mistake?"

"I…" Dick's eyes grew fearful.

"He'd stick you on to a plane, ship you off to boarding school – where all of the "privileged" children end up going, once their parents have decided –

"NO!" Dick slammed a hand down hard onto the water as it splattered across both of the men's paths.

"No…What GAME can save me…. from becoming like…. you?!" He shouted back; Dick's fury was as a women scorned. Slade tried to redirect the topic before his apprentice lost control of his anger.

"If you learn all you can about your enemy, you have a shot at delaying any plans they may have in store…. You'd only have to answer a few questions, and if you win, I'll tell you a few secrets of mine. The same goes for me. If I guess correctly your questions, you'll be forced to tell me all about yourself. THIS is a game of trust and the desire to seek a truth that otherwise would remain sacred to the individual."

Robin looked up with a gasp, in shock. Taken a back by the man's request.

He could learn how to stop the Nano - bots…. He could…also, give away JLA secrets that no one should ever know but those from the League…The Bat clan's weaknesses. The Titans' other lives and hopes for the future…

He could ruin them, for the desire to want the answered he'd sought all this time.

~ Things even Bruce doesn't know about Slade…but, why do I feel so anxious? ~

He could also take down Slade, and anyone that stood in his way of accomplishing this.

/

"We got a copy –

"Doc? Is this the…"

Cy looked over the extra sample of a recovered vile from the briefcase they'd found Black Mask to be clutching for dear life, back in the scuffle in Bluudhaven. Fallen dead from a collapse of beam onto his head.

The one "scuffle" where Slade had taken Robin away again from his team.

He'd injured Bb's arm, had given Bruce a near fatal shove into unknown sewer territory, had scared Arsenal to death when Miss Martian had turned up to teleport them, and for Cy?

He'd found some liquid proof that wasn't a fake.

As if Slade would carry around different decoys.

This one had a few flaws too, but Atom's alter, a scientist at S.T.A.R labs in Central wasn't so sure.

"It's as if something WAS hidden between the effects of the drug and this;

He pointed to an image he'd taken with precision, all by pure luck.

Yeah, luck.

Karen Beecher, a genius intern at the doctor's lab was the fearless Bumblebee. Cy had hit it off with her in no time flat. She said she'd been on a second co – op with her pals in Steel before Aqualad's mad rush to the Watchtower.

"Does it look like absolute proof that Slade is plottin' with something big this time, doc?" Bee leaned over in her white lab coat to see if Cy had checked the image too.

"There are traces of…DNA. This "organic" compound …signature, comes from a sample you got me from –

"So, are you sayin' that…" Cy's eyes grew wide. It, couldn't be…

Atom nodded. "That exact sample you took from your ex – leader matches the compound DNA used in this exact substance."

"You said that Slade congratulated Robin for comin' up with the idea…" Bee shivered at her theory. "Do you think, he knew Slade was usin' his DNA to make other people, into brainwashed –

"Not brainwashed." Atom rebuked and tried to shine a light on the subject some more.

"It has the potential to alter a person's dormant meta – gene capabilities. It can either nullify the effects of anyone harboring the gene in a second generation, or it can alter HOW the meta – gen might manifest itself and the person's original potential for it can vary…compared to how the mutagenic DNA had ben prior to exposure to the…" Atom groaned. "Taffy. This doesn't sound like Deathstroke. More like –

"Super – bad tech? Corrupt think tanks?" Beecher added.

"No, subliminal gene altering foods come out of ONE mind that comes to my own conclusion." Atom put a finger to the air to conclude.

"LexCorp. The mastermind who would lap up a chance to eradicate meta – humans for his own personal gain."

"Shoot…. then, you mean Slade was just haulin' a pycho – drug around Bluudhaven for no reason? Why would he flaunt a piece of scientific –

"He's been leaving Lex's trail cold. Remember that attack in Metropolis, Bee?"

"I heard it was nothing' but a battlefield by the time Death' had made his rounds." She shuddered.

Cy grunted. "Yeah. An' Lex was looking to –

"Run for office." Atom sudden saw his C.O.M.M unit flash on.

"Kid Flash says; to turn on the news, right now."

Growling, Cy hit the monitor button to let their eyes and ears be amazed.

~ As of this season, your famed benefactor to Metropolis and the world over, is going to set off single - file and strive for a seat at –

"The white house?" Bee bit her lip. "It ain't gonna fly! He's a wanted criminal! –

"He's got connections in every house of our government." Atom swallowed. Bruce was going to have to sedate Supes if he got ahold of that man's best shot.

"The people already voted that he's a low-down dog of the industry he runs. We all had him up for trial an' everything..." Cy shook his head. "He's not gonna get into –

"The drug? Are you sure it's not a part of his big plan, Doc?" Bee turned to the scientist as he wasn't really wanting this all to be true.

"It could be, maybe we missed a clue." Cy agreed that the only way Lex could become President of the United States was through indirect bribery or….

"Mind – control is as low as you can get…" Bee frowned and turned to the image of the waving "next president" of her home country.

"Anyone still wanna move to Canada since, well…the LAST election?" Cy shook his head. "Even the far north can't stop his kinda world domination. It don't work like that. Sorry Bee."

She'd noted that another tycoon had tried to woo the people with his own form of "mind – control" but the proof of his crimes was stacked against his cabinet, so the man had been booted less than a year later instead of right away.

"The U.S Gov isn't gonna let im' walk free. We just have ta' show the current Prez that Lex is what we know he is." Cy confirmed.

"As it stands, we need to proceed with caution. Even so..." Atom rubbed his chin and wasn't sure if that would stand to run right into danger.

~ After, Death…~

"You seem more uptight than usual, doc. "Karen noticed that the bags under Dr. Choi's eyes had grown in size since last week. He did look a bit drained since the incident with Ingenico industries…

"Just, a lot of research to pick up since The Flash was put out of commission." He explained.

"Ok, but don't forget to take care of yourself. You ok too, Sparky?" Bee turned to Cy as he mulled over the same details in his brain.

"Yeah…but If the League can't fix our big bad tycoon's vote ta bring em' down to zero, he'll no longer be an anti – hero to the people.. He'll just keep buttin heads with the JLA."

She agreed, but the news wasn't what had her mentor's mind this maxed out.

"I'm actually thinkin' about how Rob's DNA got into the drug's compositional outlay of ingredients. It's…eerie...he's a Titan. Not a terrorist!" Cy brought a hand up to his face and sighed.

"Robin was your boy, we all know that." Beecher had a reassuring set of fingers brought onto the metal man's shoulder.

"But the cost of one life over more than possibly seven billion and counting? Including the children who will have the meta – gene later in life? That can't wait." Choi dismissed the concern of Robin being a key reason to react and moved and Bee looked at one another. The doc had a point...

Choi swallowed.

Keeping his mouth shut, he'd not tell his team that he was also on Deathstroke's hit list.

He'd been in contact with the office where the tech had been kept. His lab buddies had kept an eye on things, but Slade…

Had gotten past security, under his watch.

/

~Your laboring here is involuntarily to trifle with life on this planet and many others, such as…A crime like yours is far more than a simple thief's may ever be. You supplied the technology that has helped me to ruin Batman and his family, for good. I intent to repay you handsomely if you'll continue to keep me entertained-

~I won't be confronted to be bribed by a sociopathic killer! I don't care what you do to me, but the lab and every drop of research is my life's work! I can't hand over ANY of it to a sicko like yourself…Batman will stop you…~

Atom growled into the monitor. ~He'll make you pay for attacking the League! You took out Barry Allen like you had the absolute right! I'm going to make sure you pay dearly through the country's and Interpol's justice system –

~I'm too valuable an asset to throw away; the United States Government is essentially controlled by a limited Hierarchy, Choi. ~ Slade motioned to his atomic blaster he'd stolen a few days earlier. It was, quite a shiny new toy. Choi fumed and hoped that the militaristic bastard was done with his lecturing.

The doctor snorted. ~So am I; if I didn't have the mind to sell myself to the highest bidder, like you

~My work is more so to peacefully keep every government out of the gutter. ~ Slade snapped. ~Without death, you'd have to learn to breathe in the chemicals YOUR company produces until your dying day. Don't EVER patronize the same killer who has turned down hits on all of the men in your building before –

~Only when it's benefited you to do so!! ~ Choi spat. ~You kill by a code, but not when you can use a person for your own ends to be met. Robin didn't have –

~You know nothing about my apprentice's promise, not even the oath he swore to me without blinking. ~

The man's deadly gaze of that one eye, was almost done here.

~Continue to impress me with your special supply of gadgets…. I'd love to see what your perfect mind can accomplish, with the right incentive…Good luck –

/

Choi was profusely sweating through his lab coat.

He was coming back, tonight.

Bee had gone home, so had Cyborg. He'd stayed in the office with his Atom costume ready to shrink him out of danger. He'd designed it to do just that. But Slade…Wasn't here for the same reason he'd suspected.

In fact, he was a bit…later than his time had said he'd be.

"Am I…. stop." Choi breathed and looked out the window to his lab. He was in the room where the monitor had showed Lex getting some press feed.

The room was still; save for the buzz of electrical currents and the hum of his main computer….

Yet, he couldn't tell…

"I've been waiting to meet you in person. Was this at a bad time?"

As it stood, Choi jumped back.

His suit!

He pressed a point on his chest as he'd swapped personas to fight this killer. Smaller was safer.

"You won't take this lightly, I see." Slade's twin swords and suit he only used for combat alone was enough to keep this pint-sized drone in line.

"I won't let my research fall into your hands! I've contacted the l-

"Are you so sure about that?" Slade let his sword Shwing out as he led it slightly to dip to the ground.

"I…. What did you do?" Atom shrunk down as Slade flew at the male, he'd just missed?

"I cut off communications prior to my visit. The league member was Bumble Bee. Would you really sacrifice your own assistant to take care of your own needs, doctor?"

"She was never suppose to come here…!" Panted the scientist as Slade mentally goaded on. Dragging every trick out that he could, with the most grace and precision he was capable of "weaponizing."

"What about your new weapon? Bat's kid? Is he not allowed to see you on the job, yet?"

Slade stood and paused.

"Finally ? –

"HAH!" Slade swung out a metallic orb into the air.

"A smoke! ? –

Atom coughed* and tried to float off once the shroud had evaporated a bit, but Slade was faster. He got the man by the spine with only a slight reach.

A game of cat and literal, mouse…

"You'll have to face these fears of YOUR death happening, NOW Choi. I don't want to finish you before you've finished your latest experiments. Not when the world is at stake because of what you've created!" Slade slapped around the tiny fighter, until his Atom suit had started to short out.

He grew bigger and was able to taste blood…

"Good luck., is that what I said in my earlier mesage?" Slade swung his blade to let it sing before a victory.

The Atomic fighter fell to the floor, no.

A desk….

Slade had him pinned against it.

A butterfly…Getting its wings clipped.

He started sweating by his upper lip. He didn't want to die…But…death couldn't have his life's work.

He couldn't -

"I'd meant that, wholeheartedly, Doctor. You really shouldn't have turned down my offer…. Since you had the chance to fix things yourself! –

"GAH!" The cut was deep, as Atom was dragged up to face the killer's fury and fiery one eye.

"Change back." Slade commanded with the breath from beneath his mask, as liquid poison.

"I want to have you as a hero when I send my message back to your team."

"Ne…n…neve-

"RAAAgH!" The next gash was more than enough to put the Atom in a bad mood.

"You'll be a dismembered corpse soon." Slade took to the monitor as he hacked into the suit's data with such speed at his fingertips.

"Is that right…. Humm, never considered you to be this "uncool," Doctor. But…" Sighing, Slade had his answer.

Death gripped the other male's chest, looking for a switch….

Aha.

The suit's center was pressed and Choi reverted to his smaller size. Slade's hand was wrapped around his torso. He entire body was held still by the man's cold, gloved grasp.

Slade took out a stapler from the desk's side as he proceeded with his contract.

"The codes to your new machine. Tell me, or you're implanted mesh from that last surgery in June, will be ruptured in one decisive snap. You'll get the wrong treatment, from me... And. Of course…I'm no doctor. I can't stich up my targets…"

No words, just a sputter of pained sounds.

"That, sadly is not part of the contract I have for you." Slade awaited the man's word, but it never came.

Instead, Choi spat in the man's direction.

"Go…to…hell... Deathstroke!"

"Famous last words. Then, alright." Slade blinked, and instead saw a stapler REMOVAL tool on the desk. That, brought back memories. He smirked before the conflicted scientist. Like a fox gone into the coop, he'd found himself a fun new way to send his message. Useful, yet an underappreciated mechanism.

"Wai…. wait…. you…what, are you?! -

The removal device was born of teeth and jaws, led to be set into his target's tiny abdomen. Like a snake bite. A four-pronged hell.

All as Dr. Choi screamed for death to take him.

/

Richard's loss had been with a very sore stomach. He'd not expected it to burn like it had, but Slade had gotten a call….so he had…

He'd let his body be taken…AGAIN!

"I fucked up! Damn it! –

The monitor started to glow back at their lair's main room where he stood, currently moping. The Man's face shown back with his eye just as determined to finish another job in the background.

Or, it was already done…

Robin gulped and kept his attention on his master's masked face's expression.

But…was that a lab? Where was the contract? He'd –

~ I'll be back by tomorrow morning., apprentice. The mission was a contract I just couldn't refuse, and so far it was a success as always. ~

"Whatever. I'm keeping this place on lockdown. As you requested."

~Good boy. As a plus, I'll be sure to bring you on another mission in the near future. You'll have to learn about my role in this society; I'm not as evil as they paint me, you know. ~

"Spying and killing are still close enough to call that aim a criminal offense –

~Don't get snippy at me, Apprentice. Just keep the room warm upon my return and we'll call it even –

"I was raped by you, again! –

~You tossed yourself at me and didn't want me to leave. You've forgotten that fun fact? Ah, how's your –

"FINE." Richard seethed over the console" . JUST. FINE."

Slade frowned. ~Attitude, Nameless… I could very well revoke my agreement to leave the Titans

"You won't, touch them…. BECAUSE they're mine." Dick dug his nails into the computer chair.

~Such determination…but remember, they still want our plans to fail. If you try to help them in any way whatsoever behind my back, again?...~

Robin gritted his fists and awaited the latest recurrent threat.

~You'll be the one who pays, dearly Richard…The oath will be set in stone, and before long…You'll lose all sight as to Why you've continued to fight me tooth and nail…as I promised you; I never break my promises dear boy, but it was to personally BREAK you…That end, I'll keep to without hesitation…~

The man's hiss had died with the flicker of lights from the monitor's screen, as Slade's face faded to black.

Richard curled up in the computer seat and shivered. He exploded.

"Shit…. shitSHIT!" He tried to look away. He fought because…because he WAS afraid of the mad man!

He didn't want to lose anything! Not his friends, his family…. his team…his –

~ Hope. ~

He took his head in his hands and cried like the first time he'd been indoctrinated by the war criminal, turned crime lord.

His home, his hope…he couldn't find it... where?

He saw their intertwined bodies in the water.

Ah, his moans were too loud…Too much!

He croaked out "S- stop…sto -stop…. STOP… I-it….!" His fragile mind begged to quiet itself.

The spinning guilt…. The ear-splitting headache…of…

~ Having lost. Having lost to…. ~

His body was under - water, panting as his lower body was –

"AGHHH!" Richard gripped his skull and rocked himself.

"Calm…ha…have to…. be..."

~Robin! ~

Gasping up at the air, Dick was frightened. His bloodshot eyes would do anything to have someone …

~Dick! It's us! ~

"No…. you're not real...!" He moaned out, the pain in his head wasn't a fluke…something was –

~Miss Martian got inside your noggin! We know how to contact you! Cool, right?! Please, dude… You have ta' –

"Get out! Go! You don't know what those! –

~We know. ~

Cyborg…

~And we don't care. ~ Raven.

~We are your friends, Robin. ~

Tears spilled further down Richard's face. Starfire. It WAS her! They could talk to him? But…

Richard panicked. "What about, Slade! He'll destroy you!"

~He's not the one in charge of the mind - scape. ~

Zatanna, and one more.

~Oy, you heard em right.' We wanted to send you a message, personally; but you've been under the direct influence of another who's made ties with a demon called Trigon the Terrible. ~

Raven cringed at the air, hoping her father was still being blocked by the mess of magic users in the tower.

~ Sorry, mate. But it's the truth from the man of mystery's own lips. ~

"Who…who is that?" Dick frowned and wiped away at his dripping face.

~The name's John Constantine, at your service. ~ The man spoke in a gruffer British accent. Robin raised his brow. "So…you are -

~He's a stubborn bugger, ain't e? Your leader isn't very resourceful I take it when it comes to magic and spell casting –

~He's not a pro at it. ~ Raven was messing with him. Good ole' gloom n' doom…

~Nor are some of us. ~ Starfire reminded the others.

~I already came out of being under Slade's mental block. The link you two share, his invincibility being increased, that was all Trigon's doing. ~ Responded the dark Titan's second in command. She shifted and hoped that the link was safe from Trigon's partner as well. No more secrets, that time had since passed.

~He claimed to hear and feel Slade, even when he was not really there…Is this the reason as well for our friend's behavior? ~ Starfire asked the Teen Titan's second - in - command.

"He…But Slade said it was because of a function that linked us due to the Nano – bots' control!" Robin was starting to wonder if that had also been a lie, but it wasn't the whole story…

~He pulled the wool across your vision, kid. ~ Shaking his head, Constantine believed this to be brainwashing on a metaphysical level. ~You can't break from his control unless you've somehow managed to

~Slade and Trigon? Duude! When did you guys find out about that! And uhhh, who's Trigon again? ~

Robin snickered; Bb was still himself. He wanted to cry….

~Quiet! Ag, not right here, you lot - we have a plan, I do want to guess though that's the case; right then, Zatana? You called me from the Swamp Thing's location about a pressing concern with –

~It is! This is more vital that anything the League's dealt with. ~ She managed to stop him from dismissing her cry for help.

~So, we stop the big - bad, then Slade is just powerless, right? ~ Bb put two and two together as he counted off of his gloved fingers.

"Slade, is on another contract….a, mission at the moment –

~We could care less that two shits about him.~ Constantine grunted. ~ Your safety is linked to this current Earth's continuation….And, Robin. You cannot due this forced bond, let him inside of your mind. ~ Constantine was warning Robin - like Raven had with her friends.

~ I mean it. You must literally block that beady eyed bastard out as much and as long as it takes to have the Titans and League come to your rescue. You can't fight a real demon warlordon your own, mate. He'll have Trigon reborn - and at the rate this plan is taking. We can bet on it within the next rise of a full moon's watch, a war between divides is going to call me into action. Just you wait on it. ~

/

Dick sat up and tried to breathe normally. He felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head. "I'm just a pawn, but this…"

~Remember the insignia you recovered after our fight with those nutty Brothers; Thunder and Lightening? ~ Cy brought another "time" up, while Constantine was briefed on the item from that fight that they'd shown to Raven as well.

~That wasn't Slade's trademark "S" on the front of it. That was Trigon's other name. ~

~ Rae told us! ~ Bb blurted out over Cy's shoulder.

"What?" That news had now gotten his attention.

/

Constantine rubbed his chin and looked over the eerie "S" that the kids were gabbing on about.

"Aha!" John snapped his fingers, then pointed out at the two marks that looked to be commas just near the top and bottom of the insignia.

"That then, is a message. This isn't a mortal's doing. It's the name of a lord who's terrorized countless destinations throughout time and space, in limitless eras. Raven, let em' have your say –

"Trigon was also known by another name…." She began.

"He had his followers hide his occultist traditions deep underground. As long as time has been around, Trigon's name has never been uttered without consequence of what the cult could do to a person for speaking it… This, is called; the mark of Scath." She spoke seriously as ever, and Robin couldn't turn off her telepathic link if he tried.

~I…Was…Slade…. He's working for Trigon? –

"With. Deathstroke has a reputation... for not liking to be told what's to do."

Zatana recalled her info from the Hall of Justice system's computer. The file was jam packed with the men and women that the mercenary had…

"As we said, the killer wants something from this deal with an interdimensional devil." Constantine noted.

"Probably power."

/

~He's become a deadly crime lord over night. That has to be why he's cut a few corners; WHY Slade is always one step ahead of us!~ Robin had his answer. Slade had told him nothing, because it was all hocus pocus!

~Slade isn't the one who has the power to stop this from happening, to me or you…I have to know?~ Richard begged Raven to let then in on how time could be returned to its proper form.

"Right now, Rae wasn't just working on gettin' the Nano – bots out her system. Rob; we've been thinking –

"Going back in time, we could stop Slade from ever taking you away from your dear friends!" Starfire blurted out.

"And we could investigate this incident into the present, to be sure that your transformation wasn't because of Deathstroke having his master's motivations in mind." Constantine added.

"He's looking for a body. He can't co – exist in his world and ours without a way to stay corporeal." Raven grimaced at the fact.

Raven decided this to be so, as John rubbed the back of his neck by this sudden, possession talk.

Zatana jumped back in, while Robin was about to go into overdrive.

"We have to get him back, in any possible way –

"Hey…you guys….?"

Bb had checked into the news on the Titans TV screen – there was an assassination in the middle of the night.

"A Doctor…."

Richard's stomach dropped. As Bb didn't get to finish.

"Atom …No!" Cy screamed, gasping back the shockin his voice.

It was a crime scene that had a warning symbol in the box; a man the side of a pin was ...

Set on his back, murdered inside a staple box of replacements.

An empty one.

Starfire's guts churned. Cy was nauseous with crying grief. And angry, at the killer's taste in burial customizations.

"We are going to assume that his captor's last target was this man?" Constantine asked Zan and Raven and flicker a finger at the large enough Tele.

Miss Martian found herself soothing the team's immediate distress, while Robin's aching heart brought her to near tears again.

"Dr. Choi; I worked with him! …" Cy shook his head and gritted his jaw.

~Atom…. Slade…he

"He was after the Time - portal converter." Raven said this over the teen's thoughts.

She sighed and held her powers in check.

Such sadness…

Raven spoke up.

"I helped him and used my powers to get –

"You truly…. just broke an important magical by – law! Well done, missy! You can kiss this case up it's bleeding arse goodbye AND as, completed!"

The blonde brit through up his arms in defeat.

John paced the room with his brow deepened in concern. "Dear gods…. We could end up on trial by the sorcerer's high council! Why'd you rope me in with! –

"BECAUSE!" Zan sent her ally into a wall. He groaned at the impact. "Strong…sorry…Was lost in the moment…Cough! *"

"We couldn't have Raven or my power to be enough. I also helped Choi, Atom… to complete the device. The converter. And, the anti – serum solution he was working on –

"Serum?"

John was let down by Zan as he hinted on wanting in on this Serum business.

Miss Martian held her chest. Something…

~We can't stay! Robin; don't worry. Just…. keep fighting back! We aren't going to let –

~Apprentice? ~

/

The link was cut; like a cord of the fates' tapestry.

Constantine turned to Raven, his words the next thing to get her heart racing.

"Raven, a word?"

/

They were outside of the tower, the beach in their sights as John lit up a smoke and had the drag carry away his endless woe into the night air.

"I spoke to Zan back when her dad had been in Bristol a number of years prior to her joining the Titans." He said this, and looked to the past as he did so. "She's a very powerful sorceress, but I do worry about her safety at times. Did your leader know? Have you told your team yet?"

"About –

"Don't' skip around the issue, sweetheart." John pulled the cigarette from his lips and replied;

"I know that you're the spawn of that "demon" that the League is about to go off and obliterate."

/

"I didn't tell my friends, because back then, I wasn't in –

"You still aren't. You let him see you at your weakest." The man took another puff of his cig.

"Slade got inside your head, just as you were invading his memories. You missed getting to the core of his reason for starting this war with your leader's family. The League. I know. Batman and I knocked on each other's interdimensional doorways in the past. He told me how you got left in the watchtower." He sniffed.

"Why didn't you expose me in there, then?" Raven wondered. "You could have said a lot more if you did know everything – you are an overseer of the magic on multiple planes. You were even allowed to cheat death!"

"I did it, to keep a promise."

"Then why is Zan calling out to you and no one else?" Raven crossed her arms to question.

"Because, she trusts what I know. What spells are compatible with her own magic. I'm practically family to the Zatarra clan."

"Then, can you help us? The Titans; to finally defeat my father?"

"You are asking a protector of magical dimensions…to aid A half demon like yourself? Are you aware of my payment for that sort of conduct being –

"I'd give anything. We'll pay it. Your fee –

"It's not a fee in pence and cents, love." Constantine tugged out the cig again and shook his head with a chuckle.

"That would be, your life."

Raven froze.

"The only way is through a vessel, right? That requirement would have to be the only reason as to how Trigon could ever live as a god on Earth, in the first place."

Raven's walls tilted by those words. She'd lost focus, and Constantine had seen right through her.

"You've gone shockingly, pale…did I scare you?" He cocked his head to see if she'd been ready to keel over.

"I'm…not just a person." Raven WAS flustered as she rubbed her arms nervously, harshly as the cold set in.

"I'm also, a portal."

/

"Oh, ah…. I see it…The Chakra - Gem gave it away for me. Bloody well must'ave." Constantine pointed to the shard of red on Raven's forehead.

"It contains your magic power, so you can properly focus it."

"The monks of Azarath helped me to face my father." Raven explained from day one of how her fate had been decided for her.

"They placed this gem onto my forehead to keep Trigon from taking over, and…at the cost of their home…the safety of my family…Arella was killed. and I…."

"You were one "devil's" spawn that never came with an instruction manual."

"And, one with a warning sign…" Raven nodded.

"No one bothers to read the fine print, anymore. It's a shame. You'd learn to stop trusting others – like us. Hell, if you devoted your life to understanding the ills of the universe."

"How did you learn to fight yourself?" He asked the distraught Titan. "I didn't always know how to correct it; that emotional energy took over and hurt my friends, before. It was not as strong, but each time…"

"Trigon grew more and more aware of how strong you had become."

"He doesn't want any competition." Raven said. 'If Slade thinks this a real way to gain the control he wants, then he's being manipulated as well. His anger, greed, fear, I could feel all of it. Robin…He can't face him. "She put her head down and away from John's speculative eyes.

"I don't damn well blame you for wanting to have the Titans protect your sanctity as the child of that monster, but they're now in mortal danger because of that risky choice. I've read about and have even faced monsters uglier than all hell and sin combined. The real mystery isn't if it can be beaten, yet CAN it be properly understood. What do you think that means to us?"

"To…Know Thy Enemy…?" Raven quizzed.

"Exactly. Never go into a fight alone, or without the proper protocol." He tapped his rucksack that held his powerful tome and the magical spells which always came in handy.

"I'd like to see Slade top that one. He sounds like a bloody - confident bastard with a lot of his own demons left to unpack."

John took another drag of his smoke, and then let it turn to dust to avoid littering by the bay.

"Thank you, for coming to hear out the Titans, Constantine –

"Blame this visit on my only weakness inside, by the monitor." The man scratched his beard and motioned his thumb at the tower.

"She really has a big enough heart and brains for the both of us, I truly cannot dare to compare it."

/

Yes, John and Zatanna have an underage thing...long story short - she's younger in this, dunno. But it works as family, you get the dirty deets. Sladealso is ging to replay (the writer is) the bet the men had in the onsen style bath Slade miraculously built inside of his lair in -

Not gonna tell you whee; that hint was already dropped!

Remember how Robin has not been out of the haunt indas, so Slade could have relocated...?

Constantine is a fun dude so we put him in there as a wise old codger trope. He and Raven are going to go into Trigon talk rally soon.

Slade is back, and took out Atom in the most obscure of ways. Slade in the comics DID kill this hero, but i made it a case forr staples instead of matches. That much darker if anyne knows how sharp a staple removaler is. My parent stiil has aton. Like snapping jaws.

And Bee was his assistant; it's a DC fact!

She's a bit older than Cy. I made him 17 and her a bit older by months, nothing less. She's a genius like him after all.

This is also the case for Dick; he's been with Slade for nearly a year.

December is the countdown to Gotham.

Bat v.s. bird v.s. tiger. Who will stand above?

And so, the next will leave your head spinning. Stay cool and read on this summer! Stay curious!