Teen Titans; The Fighting Life – Chapter 21: A Night to Remember

/

It wasn't fun deciding to have the main Titans tag along, but Raven and Cy talked it over. They could not let another episode derail their good fortune -if ever it would come again to have them setting off to wherever the man had taken their leader.

A castle on a cloud, a place where none could do him harm.

Starfire's seat on the T – Plane was a bit uncomfortable; her reasons, were that Gar had to stay in her space as another small animal, while the other seat was occupied in his area by a Titan who'd decided to stick around.

Arsenal was told to come along, since Miss Martian and the others would be looking after the city in the lead Titans' absence.

"Will The Batman know about Arrow's, condition?" Starfire asked the red headed archer, who simply tried to smother the feeling of guilt of having not been there to see Ollie recover.

"Constantine wasn't there by the time Canary had flown over to the house. I shouldn't be talking about it much…. that guy is a real jerk. He left to go to Gotham without us, and that just…. Argh…" He put a had to his face and groaned.

"WHY are we trusting our luck to a magic -man again, Rae?" Bb said in his cutest cat form, comfortably splayed out onto Star's lap.

"Because, he found out some of Slade's secrets and is willing to expose the villain to Batman – we can come up with a better plan once we get to –

"Gotham city is still miles off' sunshine – crew. We have ta' just tough it out and hope Johnny or whatever gets to Bruce before we -

"What about Robin?" Starfire exclaimed.

"Our friend is in mortal danger from a man that is less than human than we'd originally thought possible…How can we sit idly by and not fear the worst in Gotham as well? We are prepared, but we are scattered without a way…" She couldn't finish as Star hugged her support animal and wanted to cry.

"Our emotions are tied to this battle Slade is helping my father to be ready to start." Raven had told her team, despite her fears. And Trigon had allowed that.

It scared her even more. About what he already knew. What he could learn from them and this fight…

Slade had fed her father them. And the league. He'd known it, in order to stay alive as a solider during the apocalypse.

She feared one more would join the ranks he'd set into motion…

Without putting up much of a fight in the end.

"We're almost done with the "Time – Transporter" so what else can we do; we have to time this or go flyn' back to Cali to bar the doors from the end of the world."

"Stop it…I already know the risk you're taking. Bats and the League are going to fight; but we are apparently the only ones who can get close enough. Close enough, to his inside stooge." Snorted Roy, as he tried to get through the ride with his headphones on… "Gotta focus, wake me when we have a decent rest stop…"

"Why did we bring Mr. Mac – Snooty – pants again?" Gar asked in his form of a Persian cat. Star immediately perked up from his puffy - fluffy tail. Like a cat with a reed in its way, she batted away.

"We had to get him outta the tower, and he can help us with the covert stuff; Gotham is tough. Since Rob was raised wealthy from his bein' adopted an' all, we have to see if Speedy knows more about street smarts than our AWOL boy wonder." Cy explained.

"KF is still in Jump until he gets well enough to return to Central. Barry is getting better, but the trick on him is not short lived. It comes and goes, so S.T.A.R labs is doing what it can to fix him up…Not gonna be easy."

"Right. And until we have a handle on Batman's motives and Constan –

~Was gonna call you, anyway, Lov. ~

Raven blinked. ~I'm on your screen. Cyborg gave me reason to hook up with a unit, so here I am! ~

"You gave him a communicator?" Roy suddenly sat up. "What made it ok to pass out and share –

~I'm as trusting as they come…well. I did get your intel as expected. Slade is working to feed Trigon's hunger. Raven is supposed to somehow know all this, but I won't pry until the time's right to do so. How's the flight? ~

/

~Noisy. ~ Roy snobbishly replied.

"Well, then Batman, I found…. Is after an old foe by the riverside pier. You'd best be at Wayne Manor by the time I'm done reeling in some very big fish. One catch, is goin' after a sad sack entertainer…A…. Joker, was it?"

~He's gone afte…. But that dude is washed up! Harley dumped him! ~ Bb protested. ~He's not gonna help us, he doesn't have a clown posse anymore –

"I think Batman isn't looking to be frank with the sad clown. He's looking to build an army. I did some digging. Be aware and head to the Manor. I'll have Bats eating out of my palms until the breadcrumb trail ends where it all began."

He let the link of the borrowed unit die, and set off with a new cig to his lips for where Bruce was negotiating and truce with the baddest man in all of Gotham city.

The Joker He'd done a decent job, right?

/

Wrong. All wrong….

Joker's ugly face empowered him no more. Had Harley almost been…his truest muse? Not just a side kick – as he kicked a can on the pier, his pyre? He was no more a villain than she was his once - willing mistress. The man – bat had come between them! "When he'd gotten to her, there must have been –

A shadow fell over the clown's own. Growling, he tried to hide his woes with some dignity left intact. He was the Joker, for pity's sake. He turned his head and expected a cowled buffoon to rain on his parade.

Wrong...

"Care to tell me about a few missing persons, Joker?"

"Why are you on my back, Death?" He snarled and pushed back his green mop. No gel. Tragic…

"I'm just trying to scope out a new location for my base of operations. No need to go off –

"You and the BAT ruined me!?" The clown sent an acid squirting gun that wa shaped like a laughing joker, right into the man.

The shot missed; Slade was too fast!

"Harley dumped you." Slade wiped his arm as he patted it clear. Army asshole.

"A woman shot my eye out. So maybe, this is best for the both of us –

"You have a lay – that "boy – toy" you still, ogle? Forget it! You are someone who's done in Gotham! Not me…I'll be it's crowned prince until –

"Until you slip up."

Joker felt the phantom, noose tightening.

"Batman is coming to recruit you into his "happy brigade." Slade's warning glare had the clown put his hands up to defend himself.

"Come on now, Death! We know Bats is paranoid like the both of us…but…A war, man? Is he really into being the double two – timer with his band of merry heroes? The League wouldn't approve, so quit pulling my -

"I'm going to say this nicely. You are NOT to tell him that you've been given the same "drug" to produce within your network. Do you understand?"

"Uhuh. Well, Lex has Metropolis, and you gave me a batch to take to market here in Gotham…. What's the catch, Sladey? Am I another simple, pawn to you…?" He egged at the man.

"You never went this gung - ho over a little candy before, have you?" Joker forced a grin. "The sweet life of a crime boss… got your tongue?" He smiled wide, up at the masked creeper, who yes. Had kingpins chosen in a way to throw off the heroes.

Joker balanced his pros and cons with his eyes to the sky. "I sell this formula of yours to the highest bidder, and afterwards?…-

"Not a soul should know about it." Slade warned again, his sword showing out against his side. "I know how to keep you in line, that's why Harley was in the way. Liberating her from your ranks was what she wanted, but it was because of you that the plan will succeed." Slade's sword cut through the air, just to rattle his ratty accomplice. Face to face.

"Batman was expecting Black Mask or Blockbuster to be the ones to commercially produce my product." He confirmed it with a flex of his wrist.

"Lex will make the drug his own." Joker was cornered as he saw the blade and his life flash before his beady eyes.

"So, you… just have to get creative while I work from behind the scenes, getting things ready."

"For what?" Joker threw up his arms. "You paid me off; took my girl out of my ding - dang life, even killed TWO crime lords from a city YOU haven't even visited in –

"IT and Bluudhaven are my, vacation homes. But, you're right…Mother." Slade send his sword to dip in front of Joker's long nose. Chuckling, the two could not compare the other's; one was cold, the other, that of a coward's cry in the darkness.

"However, this gives us a chance to go after the Bat…I'll even share his true identity with you. Isn't that generous of me?" Slade's face dipped to meet the Joker with a gri of his own. Behind the iron door that was his façade.

Joker's un - masked view of the world was turning to red and black.

But he blinked, and the words poured out, instead of doing the sensible thing. Running from your future undertaker.

"You, have it?" Joker's eyes were crack red and blazing full of his libido's full drive, for Batman's unmasking being the icing on the cake to this birthday clown. He could have cared less about the warning signs. Greed overruled him.

"Yes, I need you to do me the honors of killing "off" his pride…if you can…call out to his weakest link. His partner. Batgirl, maybe."

"Ah! if I get the lady bat…Woman…Then, what about –

"No… Robin, yet?" There was no choice yet to be made, and Joker was aware he guessed of the delay.

He'd been sure to sever the bond for a while. No Robin; meant zero hope for the Dark Knight's speedy recovery, once he'd been completely shattered.

Joker shook his head, and shrugged. His gloved hands moved upwards to rub at his pale chin.

Speculatively.

"No sign of a new boy in tights running amock across the streets of Gotham. Sorry to burst your bubble, Ass- assin –

Slade leaned in closer again. The joke wouldn't stay funny for long. He made that crystal. All would know his title, he didn't take shit from a sociopathic clown, let alone a nagging child in his bed. *

"What about Catwoman?" Slade added. "Selina Kyle is on the run from all but her dashing prince charming, isn't she? He's tried and failed to subdue her, but there is a spark… I bet?"

"Too much wit, she'd rat us out - she holds her only loyalties of a thief…But…" Joker stopped.

Slade lightly lowered his blade to think.

"I think we can have our eggs all in one basket if she decides to become active and warn the Batman for us." Slade as certain of this failing as the world ending by next year. If could happen. It also might, not.

The chance was a risk, one he'd be willing to try on for size.

If the slipper fit…

"We, could? Could it be…Ohh, you devil! You are going to go after his girl? –

"I'm not, YOU are going to keep her busy. The bat will come looking, and then –

"Ah – huh...You sure I'm not –

"Then, I'll want Batman front and center, for the death of his late side -kick."

Joker's eyes grew. "You…Are gonna tri-

"He's seen it, but will it work twice, you ask?" Slade questioned the clown's competence.

"You're gonna hog tie…. Oh…this is dark. I want in! To see Bat's eyes as we take his future bride, his partner AND! Agh… his kid? I will be rootin' for you, Death! I can't get enough of this plan! It's hell blazing kind of a 'good times!"

"Covering for me will fix that broken heart of yours right up." Slade put away his sword and turned to leave. "He's coming, so make sure he hits a wall, a dead end. That we were never here."

"Got it, el captain!" Saluted the man's temporary, dumb follower.

"If Selina is quick, you can snatch her up, lead Bat girl along, and I'll have the Bat on this rotten and pier and to their deaths, one by one… in a flash." Like waving a magic wand, he made it sound so easy. Joker had to stopped clapping, however.

"Ohh…. Not a good idea…. Though – the thing is…"

"That you didn't pay the rent." Slade sighed. "Then the roof of Wayne enterprises will suffice." He tried to stay in control. Joker was playing lackey for the perks of being a snake in the grass.

"That, and I have a few…back payments on the Joker's lair…Harley was in charge –

"Once again, clueless with women…. I pity you, truly…. No matter." Slade tried to keep in mind. To fool thine enemy, to make it sound too good to miss…

"In as much time as it takes, remember the plan." He was off, in a flash. As if this pier side meeting had never happened.

And never would.

/

Constantine was forced to end up in the slummiest of locations. He'd looked over the bum streets and high rises only blocks apart, and had no clue how to think Wayne lived so comfortably around the miserable souls…He could not see those souls per se, but he knew they existed.

His bags were loaded with his tools and only what he'd need to crash at his pal's place. "Or a damn, dirty motel…"

"Hah! I, said I don't know! Get off my back! Seriously? –

John perked up his eyes and ears to the sound of a snarky damsel in distress. He was…curious.

"Are you gonna rob me blind? Sel –

"Selina?" A man's voice. John stayed snooping by the other side of the street. He recognized the timber of the man…Bruce?

"I wanted to get the cat out of this bag, she probably has a lot to hold onto. Spill it…You saw something, didn't you, Ivy?"

~Poison? Could it…~

"Harley and I are laying low. I swear! Jim sent a warrant out and…You can't tell the feds! -

"We don't want you behind bars, yet…We need to get in contact with Harley's Ex –

"Ohh no…You would have to fight a mad - man worse that…. Wait, you…don't fuck bats, right? –

"Stop it, you're making my partner blush…"

"Wa? – Ew…Ok, fine. This is seriously torture for me, anyway. He's at an old abandoned amusement park by the Gotham City pier that is slated for demolition. He didn't recover from my gal putting him in his place. Complete super - quack, Harles says is gone. But…. You should know –

"Can I give a listen, too?" John popped over and instantly had a reaction. Trench and all.

"Who's this douche?" Was all Ivy could brush by, addressing the odd peeping tom as if he'd crawled out of a sewer somewhere.

"I'm a friend. Bats, you know this woman?"

"I do. She is, a former –

"Still thee mistress of bad - assery, to you

The team looked up to the closest rooftop and gawked.

Harley Quinn had just gotten back from a big party on her night out. Decked and dressed to the nines?

"Harley! Thank God and…. what the HELL are you wearing?"

"Mardi gras party; a few blocks over. Oh, Em..Gee! You are in that sitch, again!? Bats! We paid your toll, so get off of our freaking! –

"Hold on a minute, lass –

"Call me Lassie and I'll be fetchin' your brains off the floor, dirt clod! –

Harley beamed at her threat while Ivy tried to encourage her girlfriend's growth with positive reinforcement. "So badass, right, laid it on a bit…thick there, Harles!... You… may have to –

"Don't care!" Screamed the bad - ass banshee of Gotham's hard ass crew. What did you think? The Suicide Squad?

~ Nah, that's too soon, I think. ~

" This is not the time to put the kids to bed, I'm in the middle of a moment!" Constantine watched as Selina in her voluptuous cat suit tripped up the bat wielding villainess and had her whip to make the gal gone gangster fall onto a nearby fire escape. A lump on her head and a foul taste of metal in her cheek was what she received.

"Baaaa…...You're…. So, mean! Selina!" Harley rolled around like a kid throwing a tantrum.

Selina put a hand to her hip and gave the floor to her current ally. Bats.

"We are doing business." He spoke. "Your Ex sent out an invitation, and none of us can can't find Batgirl's location. We need to get to his lair, stat." Batman looked up at Harley who played possum.

"Whatever, just tell em and let us get home for once … –

Constantine struggle to pick up on the story thus far.

"We, can't do much in this? You sure you can trust em?" John asked his old ally and company.

"We can't just let her go missing forever, even my cats are out of leads." Selina shrugged and retrieved her whip with only a smack against the street.

It near jumped back into her paws. John was amazed. She could pull his cord any day of the week!

"So, the plan?"

We'll try the pier, only I'm going to be needing a second pair of eyes in Gotham's East side perimeter, John?"

The man looked his way as Constantine hadn't time to piss or shit, let alone sleep in a semi - warm bed.

"It's not even December and I'm missing London like mad." He groaned, hugging his arms to his chest from the bitter chill in the air. December. High noon….

Harley's get - up was not the warmest as she slipped on down to go to Ivy, who was trying to keep them both from being left on ice.

"We need you, if you'll still work on the league's case, that is."

"I don't have a reason to say I typically would want a world ruled by a giant, hairy ogre, so yeah. I'll bite. What's the drawback? Should I bring a partner?"

"I'll go." Ivy raised her arm and Harley's also shot up –

"We can't! We had a promise to not help him, Ive! If you go with or without…me, we'd mess things up for the crew…And you could…"

"I can't be in the middle. Want to save the world with me, again? Harley Quinn?" Ivy looked at her bride to be and they were happy to let the bat fam and a half know how "in" their decision was.

"Great. I get a clown and a tumbleweed as my pa-

"They're stronger than they look." Hissed Selina in her cat get - up. Hand to her hip. "My gals know how to bring a man with a bad act out of hiding –

"Hey!"

"I meant the tall one. Deathstroke, didn't you say?"

"Yes, the assassin turned dragon - tamer in a mere few months at a time." Constantine rolled his eyes.

The sheer knowledge that he'd accrued was the monster's true identity, but to get over to Bruce to tell him…

" "The time that it'll take us to save Gotham now, will determine the outcome." Is…what Slade told me while still inside the mind – scape. We played, Cribbage? No? Any takers on that story?"

John scratched his head. "No question on it, then?" "

"Not a one."

"Nu - uh. You're not goin' after that jack ass on your own, brit – boy." The two of his team shook their heads. Harley came and poked the trench wearing douche in the chest.

They were strong…he wanted to see why. Harley cracked her knuckles and her neck. John cringed at her determination. Lovely. A living torture chamber was his life. Praise somebody for that….

"You have your orders for this mission. Selina and I will go after Joker at the pier. Take the east sector and call if you pick up any clues regarding Slade's whereabouts –

Selina turned to her boo. "He's in this city? What about –

"He was able to use an underground transport to go between here in Gotham and Bluudhaven. I missed it, was too late."

"Whoa. Soo…. you got Sladed, then…Wow." Harley and Ivy snickered at the low - life looker. Tall, dark and boring. Selina too, but she had a softer side after all. Constantine was the only one who'd not laughed.

John wanted to punch himself out to avoid the women's lousy jokes. He'd be alright. This was for the Titans. And for all of Earth…He had to keep pushing. London wasn't far. He'd wanted to take a trip with Chas, but that could never happen…

It wasn't wrong… to want to wake up, now!

/

As they stood at the top of the world, a part of Richard wanted to come down. His master looked on and noticed that the boy's super - human reflexes had gotten sharper in the mere weeks of rigorous training exercises the two had performed in secret. He'd ben almost perfect…

Slade saw his opportunity and looked up in to the air. Getting ready. Was it time?

"Sorry, Master Slade?" Richard looked back over with his mask in place again. This one was a bit more asymmetrical and had red veins like the Nano bot's attack etched into the material. Nameless. No replacement for Grant, Slade thought.

Getting back to this touching scene between master and apprentice…

"Yes, Nameless. You may speak."

Richard cleared his thoughts and decided on what he wanted to say.

"I'm going to call out Batman, right?"

"You won't be facing him alone. I'd never dare send you off to be hurt by his, reactions…He thinks you can't handle this..." Slade purred in his protégé's ear. Captivated by his wary heart.

Slade pulled back.

~ Trigon…~

"Sorry, did I –

"You're fine, continue to scout the perimeter." Slade commanded. He needed a way to speak to the man in the mirror, before this body bled out the wrong kind of feeling.

/

Time was all they didn't have to own. The JLA was so close to cracking the code around the bots. This intention of Slade's was corrupted; in this time, he wasn't supposed to want to rule anyone. He was a mercenary for hire – maybe in another universe. That ….

"Is the device fired up yet?"

Bee asked her S.T.A.R labs' scientists. They were working in unison to change their time. To stop a demon from rising, and the loss of more heroes from transforming their landscape. A reality that quaked and had Beecher after every piece of data she could take from her end. Deathstroke hadn't gotten every detail. This…

She gasped.

He had it, and it was a chunk of Choi's information that Bee had already copied to her home drive as a precaution.

"Hell! You've gotta be joking!? He can hack into a …. Dr…. I'm sorry…" Bee looked to her colleagues and shook her head. "We can't stop. Let's at least try harder. Y'all be with me?"

"To save a life or the whole world…" One doctor felt as if there was only time to stand and ponder the universe. "Let's."

/

~Closer…. Closer…. you can't hide from the truth…Trust in my world, that YOU are to play a part in…Daughter –

Raven gasped as the vehicle had been on auto for a short while. They had a break so; it was well reserved for this time, that Raven's father had called out. The taint from Richard being raped…she'd seen his body yearn for the wrong emotions. They were not his. They were Trigon's hands…. Slade was….

Innocent? But….

No, he was still manipulating their friend. Their leader…So nothing had changed. Slade was going to pay dearly. As Starfire stayed in her safe space, Raven wandered after another on the ground.

~John, it's me. We are over looking Gotham, waiting to land. Where are you? Did you find him? ~

~I did, yet you found the wrong head to cling to. What gives? Are you going out on the town –

~No, we sensed…I sensed Trigon calling out. He's trying to lure me here too. You have to warn Batman. Slade isn't going to act like a normal killing machine. Something is going to happen –

~Well ahead of you, lov. I don't know if you're Titans understand anything concerning the demonic arts and the like – but I can bet on my life, that your dad is not waiting forever. If he has the killer Slade by the sack, he's not going to stand back an' let the old man out - do a demon's handiwork. Wait and see. Slade is the mirror he can walk through, his eye into our world. And Robin, could very well be a living sacrifice he's buttered up. Slippery bastard…. Your dad is just a coward, you know? ~

~I've known my entire life revolves around a prophecy. ~ Raven replied. ~He's not a great, person. He hurt my mother, had me flee Azarath with my life and family lost forever. I know Robin's pain. I was also molested while I was traveling to find help on earth. I know what that guilt eventually leads to. ~ She wanted to cry, but asserted herself. Trigon was still feeding. She wouldn't let him have that satisfaction.

~I'm sorry for the pain e' rought on ya…Dear gods…. If I ever get home, I'm going to say a small prayer in your honor, Raven. ~ (They were cute in Apocalyps war, as comrades. Age is a factor to avoid. Yes?)

~Call me Rachel. It's who I still want to be, so I would like you to know that side of me, too. My friends will know eventually, but only Robin has a bond, and he won't shatter it. It's blocked, but not broken. ~

~Interesting….so, Slade is still a few beans short of a beanstalk. Well, we have our answer! ~

/

A cat's paw on his shoulder.

But, no. A bat in –

John ducked.

In his face…

"Yeah! WE are so gonna toast that sucker right off a' his –

"Quiet…I'm getting a major migraine from that yappy kid routine o' yours…" John groaned and tried to not look down from where the landing strip met the pavement.

"Yeah. Harley. We are giving our location away too early - if you're gonna shout your name to the rooftops, like a complete loon, we may as well scream "surrender." Might want to try to keep in the excitement for the big face off…okay?"

Sighed and suggested Ivy, as she swiftly and carefully disarmed any extra cameras on Wayne's tower.

They'd ended up in an interesting –

"Don't let down your guard, crew…" Harley was on her best behavior. "We can't have "pee – wee' over here take us out before the last bell…"

"Point."

"Gotcha, so what's –

"Robots?

"Nope, mini – merc. Four – o-

"Wah!"

"Harley!" She was wrestled in the dark before being spat back out.

Constantine saw the Slade bots act while another master in the shadows, vanished.

"We walked into a bloody ambush. Any ideas, lovs?"

"One; we fight em off…I want that kid to come quietly!" Harley rushed in to smash up a few claws and heads.

They were k. o'ed scrap by the time she'd ended them.

"Where is the mini - merc?"

"Aw, you' have to come up with a better nick name than that! We aren't tryin' to –

"Shut it, blondie no 2, Ivy? You got the tracker out?"

"Like a beacon of hope…Wow. I'm running out of one liners…. But, yup. Dead ahead! –

The serious look of Harley Quinn was replaced by a devious grin. What was wrong with this picture?

"Bats owes us. I ain't getting my free time with Ivy back,' stuck up in Arkham , once we get the kid to quit playing for the wrong –

"What's so wrong about playing for the winning team?"

Constantine's blood ran cold. He could sense it, death was on his arse –

"Ah!" He leaped out of the way as Ivy got ready to send herself into this war. "Harley, one of you, go after –

"My apprentice has a mission to complete. Don't get in the way." Slade brought out his guns this time. He could pull out the katana, but it wasn't fun enough to him. He was very flexible, after all.

"Never bring a bat to a…Oh, I get it." Harley twirled her bat and hummed. "You thought we'd be comin' so you used you and mini – merc as decoys…Ohh, too bad but…. Ive's got em on the run! An' we've got you all hot an' bothered. Blondie no 2? Can you fight im' or not, magic boy?"

A gun flared off and Harles dodged and went in for some closer action. Slade was ready. He could get down and dirty with the queen of crime in Gotham.

"I can if it's to stop his "monster" leader from resurrecting. Then, let's 'ave at im!"

The fighting wasn't as brutal as expected, but he was supposed to be a distraction. Richard had the supposed right, the one to infect a perfect drone like –

Poison Ivy.

Harley was able to be beaten, sure. But his master wanted to see her cower at the loss of her soon to be wedded significant other. That face was something she'd go back to her clown boyfriend for if she had any nerve.

Idiot child.

Slade shot out to break Dick from his premature self - control.

/

Constantine saw how Slade avoided them, but also blocked their way to Ivy. His magic wasn't working, probably because of the after effects of that mind game they'd played over a sore loss , during the draw of his semi – favorite card game.

Slade was not the victor. He was a lackey with many motives.

"Such an indecisive, beastie! You sure you don't want to throw a good punch in my –

"I'm not a fan of being taken out without a reason to fall."

A bat slammed into view. Harles spat out awad of spit and sweat. He wasn't even trying that hard!

"Sorry, dumb soldier – but the rest is on YOUR HEAD! –

"HAYY!"

Harley let the bat hit, but he…. caught it. Barehanded?

Constantine gased.

"Super…. strength -

Slade attempted to redirect Harley as he growled out another comeback.

"No. I'm just good at my job, like you two should be!"

Getting the ball rolling, Slade didn't mind a warm up while waiting for their team player to shine. Ivy had zero holds on his apprentice. Robin would find a way, and strike on a single command.

/

Ivy had a feeling she was being led through a wrong enough trope to keep up the act.

Even if that was extremely unwise.

"Didn't you learn to wait up for people!? Hey! Slow…down! –

Ivy's vines were soon all around as Dick's mind cultivated a sea of infinite tendrils, so that he sliced the with his tools to defend himself, panting by the horrible attempt.

He fled, not speaking to his pursuer. Not trying to make direct contact. Avoiding it.

"I can't go at this all night….Agh…This is strictly too –

"Ok, you got me!" She had her hands up. Staff, with electrical shock. He was listening.

Slade liked to share his toys for once. Good one.

"One more minute, and you're done."

"He does talk!" She scoffed. "You had us all worried that he'd taken your voice, too. Bats has been worried sick -

"AH!" She stood back. The kid wasn't goading, his boast was real.

"Don't' even think about it. Batman isn't my partner. He never was. At least, I can find another way –

"Way? A way to what?" Ivy exclaimed. "You don't think for yourself, and you are just like Harles when…When the Joker was abusing her…You…. you too…He did that…."

"That's not any of your business! Let me leave and finish my –

"Business? Deathstroke didn't tell you, so I can in his place. You're a pawn." She said witout the extra bull on top.

"He's not making you an equal. Not even, whatever this is... You can't be or it undermines HIS authority. Constantine; he told us about the things he saw inside Slade's head." She pleaded out. "Slade is using you, corrupting you to gain the favor of a DEMON! A red eyed and big, bad monster that has to have a living body in order to thrive. If you think he cares, then why aren't you being treated –

"Stop…. Just…" Dick dropped the spear. His hands were glowing. No…He was being ordered….He could…..

But a part of him, was refused….

"We'll get you help." She tried to be supportive. "The world won't end; we are trying to stop him. I know that it a –

"He…. didn't just…. touch…he…. killed…. them…they…." Dick was coming apart. He'd broken free again. Heavy breathing, nearly to his knees.

Ivy tried to move herself by her vines. Pheromones, their powder could keep him sedate –

"RAAAA!"

Slade?"

She turned around and sent her field of vines to cover her.

"Where is Harley? What did you do to! –

"They are, resting. For now. Like you should BE. Clearly, my apprentice isn't strong ENOUGH of mind…. Until I let him act on his own…NOW! I command YOU; infect the meta – human! Do it!"

"Like hell, creep!…. Over my –

"DEAD?" Slade cocked his headto direct it at Robin.

She gulped.

"Oh boy…"

"What, did you do to him…. Deathstroke?" Ivy growled. "Constantine told us what it takes to corrupt a person. YOU just crossed the no – consent line, you raging asshole!"

She sent her roses - with - thorn- manifestations to go after Slade's head, but the petals burst open - everywhere from his swords and stamina, his impressive speed. Richard's palms were shaking, but he had to end it. It would not stop. The voices of reason, the distraction…

He had to get rid of it. Before he could feel again…

~ Not again. Not again ….~

Slade watched from his eye as the slinking shadow that was his apprentice, searched for an opening.

He'd let the boy have this victory in its entirety.

"You've gone soft, Pam. Did you really think that playing the heroine would do any good? You're finished. You wanted to end things witthin the villain community, right? Your girlfriend is nothing but a common insect.. She'd suceeded in doing so...for you both!" He continued to bad mouth the joker's ex lover and Ivy's current squeeze.

"She and I are NOT for you to say anything about! I'm in love, while you continue to use people like stage props in your games that only YOU make the rules for! Robin isn't even –

"NOT the name he chose. Nameless, you'll say it right."

She sent his sword swinging back, with her vines a smoky mass to throw and stun Slade.

His mask came with a filter. Dick's healing plus the bots made him immune to it as well. She was trying to just keep up at this point…No help –

"One last time, ya' beastie!"

"Shit!" Slade cussed and went after Richard, as Slade tossed the kid at Ivy, with a swift throw, and Dick….Was unable to stop himself…He was crying, as she put a hand onto his head…

Whispering that it was going to pass. The pain in both of their hearts. He fell to his knees as she….

"It's ok…. We'll be ok…Shhhh…. I'm…. s…. orr….y…..Bat…m…a…."

She fell, and was out cold. Dick wouldn't open his eyes. He could, but refused to in those minutes of intense shock.

He couldn't see her there. Where...

Slade sighed and dusted off his arms. Just a twitch, she'd been formidable, but not even close….

Harley saw Ivy and shouted; by the side of her savior Blonde no – Constantine, as she flew into a noxious rage towards one other.

Not at Robin, but at Slade –

"YOU….! RAAAAA!"

Her bat wasn't strong enough, so Constantine decided to enchant it to work in their favor. Just a little dose of pixie dust…...

"Viola!" He grinned. "You're living the high life now, Beastie!" He was sure of that as the now gilded bat tapped Slade's shoulder. Soon, he was in the air like a peter pandan (copywrite) trope.

"Hah…. Counter…this…. crap!" Slade used something to keep him still on the ground from Trigon's anti magic arsenal in Romania. He'd gotten a lot of ideas on how to cap this genie.

Constantine yelled back out. "Magic?! You can't –

Slade flew to the ground, and stayed there. The golden bat's glow reverted, and Slade got the first punch in. Harley felt like her teeth would fall out in one shock of the blow's uppercut.

Good thing Ivy wasn't here to see how pathetic the queen of Gotham's crime wall was. She'd just lost in the rankings.

Slade let Harley fall into Constantine, as he caught her mid fall.

"Shite! You lowlife – you'll destroy us all!? Aren't you even aware of –

"I'll take that risk, John. You should go get Batman and tell him I'm coming." He motioned for Dick to come as well, and the boy's mind stilled. Completely silent once again.

"A Centurian sign pact. You literally made it so that your presence is like a damn drug to that boy…how…that can't –

"I did all of this to prove a point. I'll do what I need to, to survive, and your heroes should continue to watch their backs."

Slade had Robin's attention. Constantine couldn't bother to shrug this evil aura off of his shoulders.

The Nano - bots were either cursed with a type of spell the nullified the captive's inner voice, or the other way around…

He was done, and left Harley to cry over Ivy's execution. Robin had been…. forced to betray them. Even if he'd not tried to, he still had failed to stop himself. She was alive but if they touched, Harley could infect her lover, just like Aqualad had almost…hurt his team and his friends.

/

The Centurian Sign Pact; (Making this up.) To the classes of both warrior and king, there was a designated role for those chosen to be mentored by high-ranking soldiers in the elite armies of the country. Those chosen by their superiors, would be forced to form a special bond or pact with the person who'd chosen them for status or for their own reasons. No mostly uncommon, for greed. Most times it was to drop the soap; a fatal attraction that led to various things…Or, it was for political gain; if a son of another group or family was chosen based on their status and heritage, then they too fell under the spell of the one who'd casted the curse to woo in their future….

It was a way to break a person. (this acidentally (due to hyper foocus on spectrum, tend to go quickly and type 1000 words a minute etc) came out sounding like the author 's Wynja I apologize...so im going to give full credit to her! Fantastically dark and witty stories if you'e a fan of slash and TT. Go check out hr stories! Thanks!)

Specifically, through manipulating and corrupting souls to do a person's bidding.

/

"I'll be damned…"

Selina looked at the state of Joker's castle by the bay.

In a way, it as a dilapidated shack; one you'd find in some of those depressing, children's chapter books.

Selina sniffed the air. Something smelled like fish and….

"Duck –

"Yoo hoo! Kitty kitty!" Joker came from above her with his guns going wild. That pea shooter looked super pumped.

"Made ya' look, goofer!" She grinned and let Batman undo his cloaking trick to shock the clown into submission.

And shocking it was.

"You brought the rodent? Where's the other?"

"You had Batgirl taken hostage, Joker –

"Mee?" He batted his wild eyes innocently. "Not on my watch, bat – boy! Where is she, you wonder? Why don't you ask this cat – burglar?" Just as he pointed to Selina, she set off her trap.

A great bit splash into the water below. A detonation device in her claws. And she'd played her former lover for cheap scrap.

"What? Selina! –

"I go by a name, you know…. The fact that you get your identities to remain private is what got Deathstroke at MY throat in the first place!" She frowned and hand her finger dance across the button - to destroy the pier and the Joker's crumbling castle.

"He threatened me; took me to the side…. I think I'll take it. That smile. It's priceless anyhow, yours…" She jammed a finger at the button, letting the splintered wood further, slip through and into the dark waves of Gotham city.

"Cat! Your monster partner TRICKED me! I was the one to get you in the water! No! I won't stand it!"

He fell, and tried to cling to Bat's cape as they barely held on to the falling planks that littered the bay's surface.

"To make this super quick, I'll ease the hurt, babies!" She threw all her bombs at the pier to quicken their destruction. If anyone was going to survive Slade's new world order, it would be her first, instead of a soggy clown and rodent.

"Say hi to Davey, down there...but just, don't hold your breath if he turns you down…Ciao, boys!" She turned away and got into his shiny car. Bat's cycle wasn't as hot as this metal hunk. Away Selina drove, her new toy a real throttle to her clutch. (Could not resist. Sorry!)

Batman grunted and held on as he could, but she'd take his rang and grappling hook while he'd been after Joker's obnoxious confession. No Batgirl….H looked to see if his bet unit was there to send a signal. It was, so he relented and fell into the crashing waves with his once worst enemy. His forever rival in survival.

/

Barb was finishing up her coursework online. The ring she'd heard from her nightstand, wasn't natural.

The bat signal was up, and so was she. The window was unlatched, just as the moon had come out to have Batgirl to embrace its luminescence.

"I'm coming, Bruce –

She gasped and let go of the cill.

She saw; Dick's mask staring at her –

"Anh!" He grabbed her and threw her back into her house. In her room, uniform and all. He crept in the window and he… didn't like this.

His mission…

"I was told you'd become a threat." Richard said darkly. "That I have to prevent you from hurting our plans."

Richard got out some binding he'd gotten from his thoughtful mentor and took some cloth, as a gag to shove into Barb's mouth. She resisted and even kicked Dick into the sack (literally,) but he'd become stronger. No longer her rival, her negotiation skills needed extra work.

She got into a stance to fight, to defend. Herself, her dad…

"Batman warned me to tell you…. He's not giving up! You have t –

"Nuh!" Her long red hair was pulled and she ended up on her stomach. He'd hog - tied her and shoved the gag IN WITH the touch of nano – bots from his palm - about to infect the cloth. She spat on it ad tried to bite him, but he grabbed her jaw and didn't take well to those who resisted, like his master. He shoved the cloth fully in and watched her scream out. ~ Why are you freakishly stronger? What's going to happen? ~

"Tele….no!" Dick jumped back and he saw; he was just another criminal –

~Apprentice, focus. Remember the plan. ~

~ Is that him? Tell your captor that we're not done beating him back to prison, Arkham is –

Dick panicked. How is she able to communicate? –

~ Your powers, the bots, I imagine. Don't use them again –

~ But! –

~ THAT IS AN ORDER. FINISH HER. ~

"Yes, Master." Dick looked at Barbara as her face had gone red from the bots making her sweat through her sophomore's skin….

"You're going to listen to us; to Master Slade's message, from now on."

~ I…won't…~

"You, don't have a choice." Dick looked away. She was like family…. And now…

~ You…can fix…. this…~

He felt his eyes prickle, but stopped them.

"I can't lose. Bruce is next, then we take the League." His voice had cracked a bit.

She felt her eyelids grow heavy. ~ I'm sorry…. for us…. ~

Dick gasped, right as Barbara had closed her eyes forever from his view…From ever sharing what they'd had, again…

"For, us?" He sat up, got up and walked to the window. The link was in connection. He was in shock from the lethal blow to his damaged psyche.

"It's done. Batgirl is under your control now, Master."

Richard masked his pain as his master's curses took hold to help. He was healing….

Slade stood outside as Dick joined him. "You've made your teacher very happy, Nameless." Slade caressed the boy's cheek as he said it. "Your time at my side has opened your eyes, to closing some doors that should remain unopened. I'm very proud of what you are becoming…"

"I…. don't know…" Dick gulped. "What am I becoming, master?"

Slade whispered into the boy's ear the word he craved to know.

"Perfect…. That, and so much more…"

"Yes…." Dick was spellbound. His lips refused to utter much else. Had Slade stolen his voice? Was that true?

"Aren't you going to comment? I'll allow it."

The spell broke, and Dick's feeling spilled forth.

"Save, save me…!" He moaned into his hands. Slade caught him, and he knew how to numb the hurt. "Sl…"

A kiss to ease his sins. A killer had many fears; each were killed off one by one.

"There, all better?"

"Y…yes…." Dick nodded as they readied to set off for one more location. He'd gone from pale to peach, from one smooch.

"We're going to meet an old friend of yours. The Batman is, running a bit late. You'll vouch, won't you Dick?" Slade rolled back down his mask.

Robin nodded. "I know where it is." A hand on his shoulder was proof, the web was too great. He was bound to liberate them. Any means, even his old family was not safe from the man's reckoning.

/