Teen Titans; The Fighting Life – Epilogue Story – Chapter 23: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

/

~ The whole issue around why I didn't wanna do this? Umm, Havin' us, Dead? Death, maybe? I don't want to die! I have a future bride to save for pete's sake! Ivy means the world to me….and some two – bit polarized clown with a dual sided personality is NOT going to get in my way, nuh -uh! An' I don't mean the fricken' joker – I mean Freddy V.S. Jay in an all out brawl in ONE goddamn mask! ONE! You think you can top that, freak show? I dunno! Can a hell - raising British dude chop down trolls and goblins like uhh, magic? You think I care? Well! The kid was just waiting to be shot in the back – we all were…But…Ivy was really cool about it…Ive…I'm sorry I didn't see the signs…. Wallflower – mama! Waa! We are gonna get to that alter. Fuck Halloween – bitch- face and Bruce - the - Almighty! I'm getting that mask of his cracked if it's the last thing I'm gonna ever need to be put away for man – slaughter. Wait? Isn't that sexist? Women kill all the time! We just don't tell anybody about it...Shit. BOORING! So…. then, back to the! –

/

As for a certain group of completely immobilized heroes?

They'd been spared, for now.

Slade knew how to lie, a lot.

Batman and Catwoman were the only casualties, the Titans? Hadn't even gotten stung, but the bots had instead kept them all on their toes.

Harley had been dropped off outside the manor; Constantine had come inside to warn the heroes, but then…

This bastard beastie went and got a little too cheeky with his good fortune.

Raven had shielded the heroes from the gas bomb with Constantine's aid. They went to find Alfred, but had only gotten to him before the gas got to his lungs, knocking him out on his feet.

Bb had to use his sonar, but then…

The bots came, and it all became clear.

Roy had tried and had used up his arrows in the frenzy.

This attack was planned from the start.

Raven sensed Trigon's aura and they flew after the link. Dead end.

Nowhere to be found.

Cy and Constantine tapped to look for secret doors, a clue. This place was built to stay secret and privately watched from close at hand…

"We're going in circles, I'm getting…. oooh…."

"Cyborg! Beastboy is nearly through. Raven's spell cannot protect us for much –

"I'm…going to find them, Starfire." Raven grunted and held her powers together –

"No." Constantine put a hand on her arm. "If you do anymore casting, Deathstroke's partner will reap the full benefits. You have to try again later. I'll make us an exit. Stand –

"No need…HAAA!" Starfire blasted at a wall as it came down. John looked to on as the gaping brick and mortar had him, relieved. He didn't even have to lift a finger. The gas went outside, but the bots were around as well. The larger armed commando droids were very bulky, but could pack a decent punch if provoked.

"Dude! How do we beat um back?" Bb gawked at the drop down, and the Slade bots that were sharpening their waiting, clawed grips.

Cy looked over the edge and gulped. "We can't get down, unless Star takes one of us at a time –

"I can try to use a grappler –

"No weapons. I can use a-

"No, your magic has winded you enough –

"Why are you stopping me from using it?" Raven turned to John and asked, rather to demand a quick answer.

Her comrades watched on as Bb sniffed for another way out, but found bubkis.

"You are connected to the enemy that Slade is helping to be set free from his prison." John reprimanded the empath.

"If your emotions don't stay in check, it won't just help him a tad more to gain entrance into our world. He will be unstoppable. Your emotions are a great big part of that monster's origins." He was right. Raven lowered her eyes, defiantly. "I get that you want to stay with your team, but you realize that the more you force yourself to carry the load before the horse or the carriage, that we're then another step closer to giving Trigon exactly what he wants; the strength to stand and defy the cosmic order of the bloody, known universe. Keep it together, we'll figure out a way. Don't fret, lass."

Raven and John didn't have a chance to practice their act together. A bot sent itself flying out as it latched on from behind. She was supposed to listen, but her instincts were much stronger than a promise or any dangerous warning signs. He couldn't stop Raven from blocking the attempt.

"Down!" As Raven casted, a stray, gloved hand came out to grip her arm, as it pulled Raven away from the Titans, back into the confines of the manor as the other were forced to dive down to the bottom. Away from the place that had now become a tall tower which housed a captured prince and princess.

Only Raven wasn't the princess.

/

As Harley groaned out in the Wayne Manor parking space out front, she saw something coming off a building…

Jumping, mostly.

"Not bats? Huh!" Harley got ready to save this suicidal nut ball as she left the van in park. Running with her bat to her back, Harles took after the falling and flying group of heroes she guessed, (who else could it be?)

Buut the Titans – minus the goth?

"Hey

The bots were at their heels so she waved and ran to get the vehicle she'd borrowed from one of her inmate "texting" buddies. No way was she going into join THAT stampede of robots!

John threw in the towel and used magic to create a force field around the perimeter of the manor.

Now, they couldn't go back to save her. But at least they had a running head start.

Raven was left to the wolves with only her unyielding, hope left to handle.

And as long as Robin wasn't…Done for…

"Whoa, brit -boy? Are you asleep or somethin?" Harley turned her head sideways to get a quick look at his five-o clock shadow.

"Where is your head in this, crazy scene? Ivy's inside that mad - crapper - hatter's stupid tower! We have to go get h –

The bots clawed and hit against the field, their programming, ballistic. Harley screamed and whacked her bat in a tantrum induced angst.

She jumped back, but Cy, Star, and Bb rushed past the clown. Constantine grabbed Harley by the arm and they RAN.

The walls started to break, yet the car!

"Over there!"

"The Joker's friend…who is a girl? Why is she helping us?" Starfire was in the wrong place to be asking a nihilist that kind of question…

"Long story, princess. Heads on, and buckle up, babies!" The were in the car as soon as the crazed Slade bots had learned how to run on all fours like beasts.

"Beastie taught em a bloody new trick?" Constantine cussed and was shoved out of the driver's seat.

"My van. I'm calling the shots! Sit down and hold onto your tidy whities, matie!" She revved up the engine as the bots gave up the chase, just as soon as the crew had passed through the gates of Wayne Manor.

Now; renamed, Slade's impenetrable fortress.

Behind them was a new threat to come; Raven was stolen in the midst of chaos. And Batman?

Was sleeping like a rock, buried underground, deep below.

Somewhere, with a view….Or a way down.

/

Raven felt for the hand that had grabbed her. It wasn't what she'd expected.

An elderly gent, who put a finger to his lips and like a cat burglar, had them away from the noisy bots' fighting.

"A…...Why did you grab me? –

"I'm a tad bit nervous; I admit…That was misguided on my part…" Alfred sighed and tried to seem a bit more dignified. They'd gotten stuck up in a separate room, a closet of sorts. A large one?

"Where are we? Who are you?"

"As it now stands, Master Bruce instructed me to guard the manor while he was away procuring the young master's…you are just as he talked about in his phone calls…Master Bruce is strict on his rules for…Oh! But I do apologize. My name is Alfred Pennyworth, how rude of me." He took to a light bow before bonking his head on the light chain in his face.

"Don't turn it on." Raven motioned to the switch. "I don't understand what happened. The first thing I remember, the door was opened…. We went inside and were immediately ambushed. A gas bomb went off and…. then –

"The one who left the door ajar was responsible for everything." Alfred began to explain.

"The culprit came to the door, subdued me then left me in the hall, unconscious and then, your team arrived. The gas went off, but at that time, I also made sure to awaken and find a window to stick my head out of. I filtered out what I could with the vents, but the attack was not the only trick the monster had left at our doorstep."

"The robots."

"Precisely. Those drones are lifeless automatic killing machines! I had to use my wits to escape capture, but I was nearly taken, had you not shown up in time. Your team easily distracted those dreadful contraptions. I was about to find the way up to Master Wayne's study…It should have had a secret passage to the outside –

"Batcave." Raven corrected.

"Bat…. Oh, no dear! That is preposterous! Master Bruce's family built this manor, as it is meant to resemble an old Wayne family –

"We know enough. We've met both Bruce and his hero identity. In, Metropolis." She clarified. "Robin is here. I can sense him, and Bruce Wayne's aura…"

"They must be inside the manor! Was this "Deathstroke" fellow the cause for your coming here? I believe his exact face is listed somewhere in the Batman's computer database. Was he the one who disabled our security systems, you think?" Alfred asked, now knowing that there was little he could hide from this cunning, Teen Titan.

"Yes, I do. And we that he's also working with a very dangerous inter – dimensional…."

~I can't say I'd want to believe that…~

Raven turned to her unit and saw the face of the man everyone wanted right now on the front.

~ Hello, Raven. ~

Slade.

/

Slade had never done so much as puncture a wound wide open, let alone change a few dirty diapers.

But….

Richard's state, was pathetic.

He wept over a corpse. It was understandable, but Dick had to be roughly dragged from his former teacher's body with a definitive YANK.

"That's enough; Apprentice! It's OVER."

Swatting and kicking the ground, Dick was regressing again. It had taken less than a year. He still had a lot to learn.

"YOU K…. KILLED HIM! I DON'T CARE! KILL ME RIGHT NOW! DO IT! I'LL LOSE! I CAN'T DO THIS! …Bruce…BRUCE! AAAA! Bruce…...no! NONONO! You…. YOU A-

As he was tossed to the side, Slade put his foot down. "Do you want to see what comes next?" The man settled with a little scare tactic.

He ripped Dick from the floor and took out the nano -gun from his own belt.

"That man gave himself to us. And yet, you'd say he's dead? Was that all a blur? Apprentice…. They are ours! You can't see it yet –

"I DON…HAVE to…" Shaking his head, wild eyes and tears falling loosely to the floor, Richard ripped off his mask to reveal his eyes.

"This!" He made his fingers point to his now changed eyes from the effects of the serum and bot's mis – use. He had veins that created a mosaic look under his skin, making the boy look like a meta, already. It would pass. Slade had gotten that during his dealings with…The serums'…. Beginners - faze.

"My head is trying to fix itself but I can't! I lost them…You won't let it go! Why? There is not going to be an US!? That was a lie! All of that…You'd rather end me! Do it, THEN! JUST….do I -

"Take that back." Slade came over to tower over the teen, as his apprentice glared up into his master's one eye.

Deadly alive, and kicking.

"NO. I'M DONE with YOU." Decided Richard, with his hot temper nearly kept in check. His eyes looked red and even puffier than his grip.

Slade didn't think it would work, his bots… The boy. He was trying to face these changes too much at a time, all at once. Yet, it didn't matter.

"Trigon is coming. You're far from ready to great our newest guests, and I TOLD YOU TO LISTEN…. BUT YOU…...?" Slade wrapped a set of fingers around the boy's neck as he kicked to free himself. Slade sneered in the boy's face, keeping his angry, trying to instigate a battle.

"You disobeyed a direct order and let him end up my prisoner! Circus brat!"

"You…. You don't know anything! He was never against me…you put that in my head! I saw what your plan really was…Trigon…he –

"What? You've seen him?" Slade was turned.

~Finally. Some useful ammo. ~

Smirking, Dick had something to fight for.

"He had me talk, and we decided that I needed to go back. To the time BEFORE I became your captive… "apprentice -

"Don't you lie to me, child….! The demon isn't the one holding the cards here –

"I know. But he can fix things IF…" Dick looked for a stray star that Slade had dropped. He instead took off the utility belt the man had given him with a click, and flung the empty thing at the king of liars and cowards. Slade loosened his grip, and Richard immediately rushed to get the star and tossed it in time, just as Slade was nearing in on the teen's –

"AGH!" Right in his shoulder.

~ YES! ~

The star was tugged out, Slade seethed as it began to seal up. Well, long enough for Dick to pull off the Bat's weapons from his own dreadful display on the ground of the Batcave.

Slade's eye narrowed as he took the retracted star and chucked it at the Bat –

Slade used his link to drive a nail into the coffin. Robin was going to fail; he could tell where this was about to turn.

~Two can play this game, apprentice. No more second chances. You will follow my command or I'll be forced to sell you off – soul and all –

"Can't." Robin sniffed. "We countered your deal. My physical "desire" for a chance to stop all of this from coming –

"Child, Trigon will rule worlds wherever he is. You think that one "trick" can save you from his wrath? Only powerful magic can counter his –

"SHUT it!" Sending the next Batarang to hit his opponent, Robin didn't hold back. Slade saw a sword on the wall and went after it in the scuff. Dick looked for a bo - staff from Bruce's belt. This was just like old times.

Mano e mano. Inside the Batcave.

~ Extree! Extree! Read all about it! Former blackmailed apprentice faces off against power – hungry protagonist! ~

"I'll flatten that hope for good! Cutting Robin out of your system was just one piece of our agreement. The other was that you'd have solidified our progressive step in this conquest –

Slade didn't stop, he went on to finish his sentence with Richard's fists aching to pay the man back.

"Through her."

Slade had picked up his unit from his own belt and showed to Robin; the blood thirsty anti – hero, the face of a lost maiden. A heroine who'd seen his eyes, she alone could smell his fear. She alone knew what Slade had already done in the boy's absence.

"Raven!"

"Ahah …~ You're going to get your chance…patience…Dear apprentice." Slade wagged a finger at the impatient boy and squinted at the teen, before answering to the nosy goth girl's request to set her "friend" free.

"Hello, Raven. Your ex – leader seems to have discovered my plans, to bargain off your home world with your father's permission, gem

~ What did you do?! Trigon…. Scath, he can't be reasoned with. You can't trust! -

"I know that, princess; we've brought our concerns to a close and I've discovered, that he's almost a man of his word, as much as I am."

~ That's! ~

"Imagine it - Just my surprise when I'd found out you two were related… We both decided what was best for securing our ruling hand over the earth, after that discovery…. The take – over was then set and match… Robin would become mine and…You'll now be driven to consummate, be betrothed right away to my Apprentice, while the world still turns."

Dick looked on, stunned on his feet. "I…I wasn't -

"He won't recall any of the past, or of his "Titan" adventures." Slade chuckled, as if his team was nothing but a joke.

"That part will be gone, permanently. I took that all away. You saw, witch? Why you can't enter his mind?" Slade smirked below his iron mask.

~ Master Dick…. This is horrible! This insane ploy cannot come to –

~ What about the league? Sacrificed? Don't you know what Trigon's after? You're playing into his hands with YOUR very life! ~

Slade frowned. So much for threats. Give the people what they want to hear, perhaps…He tried to avoid rolling his eyes while on the job. Not very professional to mislead a client. But he could get, hands on…

"For power? Of course." Slade admitted, graciously.

"Any chance I had for "real sovereignty" never came easily to me in this lifetime. I almost believed it impossible, once. I had to survive on nothing, so at least a part of that effort of staying alive, wasn't entirely wasted. I'm not long to remain." Slade continued. "Despite the army's "healing factor, out of my files" I'm still only just as human as all the rest. Robin, will also feel the same effects of the serum over time. You'll not be there to witness something that impossible, Raven…Or, will you.."

She squinted at the villain.

"None of you could really understand. But now you have no other choice. Become the bride, open the portal, or let them suffer a fate far worse than I have every waking hour; wishing I could know the meaning of finally being free…like this…Hell. I'd not trade this however, for the world."

Slade tipped his blade at Robin, who had dropped his staff willingly. Slade nodded his head at the effort his apprentice was finally attempting to show to his master.

"Good boy…So? Will you be joining us, Raven? Or should I say…Gem?"

~ That name, is a curse. We will stop Trigon's reawakening. I'm the one who has the power to bring him to Earth…. But I can also stop him from trying. ~

"No, I don't think you will." Slade hummed away, doubtful of her resolve's effect over his mind at this point. "But, since you put it that way…I think you'll both need to feel slightly, motivated."

Slade brought his sword down. Robin stepped back. A frightened rabbit to satisfy the starving fox.

"Wait…what are you –

The unit stayed on as Raven and Alfred heard the shouting, the claws and the fur flying. Mewling and so much as the cycle continued.

He was practically taking Robin to a somewhat hotter place as she and Al stood, inside a hall closet; looking to get outside.

Raven's palms shook as the device finally went dark. Her eyes were trapped in that steaming fog Slade had crafted by his allegiance with Raven's demon father. Both notorious con men. Both bound to betray the other, when given the opportunity.

She turned quickly to Alfred to ask. To demand it be done.

"Where is the entrance?" She exhaled. "The Batcave…That is where they are. Take us there. Before it's too late!"

/

~ DON'T GET INSIDE MY HEAD…. DON'T GET INSIDE….MY…. ~

The rrip* was bleeding obvious as Richard let out a wild scream.

The healing factor…It was like being taken for the first time! And it burned…. Hurt… so much!

"St…. s…. soo…sy….so…. r…. ahhhh!"

"You're positively, speechless... But, the look on that poor pair's faces…. I can't even imagine what Bruce would say about our fun –

"Nnoo...not…. agh...Gah…f…fun…r….hu…hurt!...hu-

Slade only commenced and pounded Robin hard* in the backside.

Riding him into a sputtering mess, being the big idea here.

A few minutes, and the kid had forced back his sobs. Slade decided to wake his apprentice's drive up a bit. He needed to release some raw emotion before the big unveiling.

"You aren't crying anymore…."

Slade noted that the boy's eyes were dry. Richard took that poorly and folded his head into his hands as he was mercilessly used up like before. His hands against the back of the Batcave computer's chair; he was teetering side to side, which made the blow Slade had struck so much worse on his end.

Slade, was having a blast at his expense, but Raven! She didn't see…She couldn't….!

"C-ca…ca…nnnno- agh agh... fu….fo...fuck! Hurts! Aaagh!" The pace had quickened. Robin had little time for a break like before. They were running on a tight schedule.

And...speaking of tight? …

Still, no tears. The bots would be working overtime, tonight. Keeping Slade pretty toy in perfect condition as before. He needed the practice, in respecting his betters… That display had gotten the boy punished. How this just tore Wilson up inside…If only he cared to remedy the pain, for pleasure.

His face was red though. He, really was enjoying it, little slut. Despite the pain, that was just the bots keeping the kid clenched up tighter than usual. A simple muscle was "altered" with the help of this incredible score, so that Robin really believed that his body had changed. Sadly, it was only an illusion by scientific means.

And magic, of course. Not to discredit the metaphysical.

"She'll be here soon to meet us. Let…us… Finish this session, up!"

Richard yelped* as Slade smacked his ass cheek, now redder.

That lusting mood of his master's filled Dick's face with an even more heated, masochistic bliss.

Slowly, he let out a forced moan.

Another, then another. Then, a building rhythm sung out. Slade was even thicker in girth from the bird's love song. Robin clenched, afraid to stop.

To beg, as he trembled with that unreachable desire. The cave's echoes made his master's cock positively ridged. Sweat dripped off the boy's cheeks as he lapped up the accidental drops.

Salt, sweat…. pain…. pulsing…..Ung!

"So…. big…."

He lurched into the man, pushing back. Thrusting like their first time. His ass…was his hot spot…. found it!...

"I'll allow you to be… the first to come, apprentice, since you're enjoying my cock so much…." Slade smirked and leaned closer, forcing himself in deeper still, while the boy was drooling through his scented lust. The man's seed was nearing a light trickle that had Robin want to grind againt the chair in front of him by its salted presence. The kid's saliva had replaced those annoying tears. Waterfalls, that he could cap later. Sealed up with a gag and blindfold, maybe.

Or finally have that damn blow job he'd been denied at the haunt.

As the perfect lubricant to a perfect end of the world christening, of Robin's childhood home. Now Slade's, won domain.

Robin whimpered and bit his lip as it trembled, he was trying to control his urges.

~ Pity. Some restraint that had been, boy wonder...~

An idea soon, popped up…

"We can continue this tryst in the master bedroom…After…Raven's freedom is taken." He purred her name, earning a sweet moan from the boy's now biten lips.

"Wouldn't you enjoy some actual, peace and quiet, for once? And best of all...No, Bats!"

With a throaty growl forth, Slade poured even more of his seed into Richard's abused asshole. The kid was not useless at all. On the contrary. He however, really needed to get his priorities together. His young mind was worth tormenting, since it could never fully break. And Slade wanted him to call the man master, for a very long time….

Slade sighed and came upright, certainly satisfied with himself. He cleared his throat.

"Our other pact…was that you'd only be allowed one lover. ME." He patted the boy's ass, as if to thank him for providing a very fine fuck.

Dick's face went redder than the hottest sun in the galaxy. He finally collapsed from the nightmarish taunting, with a hoarse moan to combat his stress.

Taking. Breaking…

"C- c – coming..." He whined out, in sheer defeat.

As he came, reaching his maximum limit, he recalled more pain that was to come. It only created more cum that he spilled, until his feet collapsed altogether while falling backwards into Slade's waiting arms.

Dick let his seed hit the back of the Batcave computer's chair, as Slade held his protégé's shaking shoulders so he'd not miss defiling such a sacred spot. The boy's panting lips were redder than his cheeks.

Not his face, mind the jabbing.

He'd come last, never first…. as Robin finally let go and stood; still unable to sob, but looking just as much of a wreck as they would see him as…. totally damaged. His head in his hands, from the shame of it…He couldn't move…

"No more…" The teen panted. Slade turned his apprentice's head back to face him for a kiss and ripped his smaller hands away from covering up that pretty face.

"We'll have none of that." He said to the teen with a deep purr* devouring his lamb, whole.

He wasn't going to let that look go sour. A trifle. It was a minor obsession, with the perks being just as fulfilling...if not more. He couldn't deny. The kid was an absolute lusty brat, down to his green tights.

That heartless wolf. Evil and cunning, as a tiger…He wanted everything, up to the last bite.

With such precision, the man instead, refastened the boy's pants and belt into place with a quickened snap of the buckle. Dick moaned and was currently having enough trouble breaking free. His tongue had gotten "stuck" sucked in-between the man's teasing teeth and cheeks; as Slade tucked away their members quietly, letting Robin take the lead for once with one lovely pink tongue from the inside out. The man's goatee combo made this task a challage, but he was hygenically safe. Very, for a super healing military man. Robin's brain thought it an unparallelled emotion. A sensation he'd crave again and again...

This little lesson – allowed his apprentice to taste his just reward; up and down, in circular motions… inside the older male's slickened cheeks, at the roof of his mouth…

"Oh…g...!" He was forced to pull back, dizzy and afraid of passing out.

It had, almost made him hard, but Slade stopped his boy from losing himself to the pleasure. The bots made his member, cool it…

Dick gulped back the taste in his own throat. It was too warm to tell…What had he just done?

Slade put his mask back on and tidied his own uniform over.

Dick could be like this for a second more; that there was a very someone who needed to be reminded who was in charge here.

Richard was marked by blood, sweat, and fluid so strong that it stung to let it go without a care.

All while the large room now stunk of their short-lived, sexual tension.

"Now…" Slade tilted the kid's head up to look over at the extra passage where their guest might be arriving from.

Dick gasped.

~ Footsteps!? Now? ~

Richard's heart was also controlled at every trailing beep of a monitor, by those impressive Nano – bots.

Slade touched Robin's cheek and found this place to be the boy's biggest turn – on (besides his ass) as he relaxed and melted into the mild caress.

Slade smiled down at the love stroked, student he now expected to take on this future with.

Almost perfect, as he'd reminded the child to stay on his toes.

"Good, apprentice…Make your Master proud tonight, my Nameless…soldier." One more kiss, as Robin succumbed to his silent goodbye.

And his forever greeting of a new era to come.

/

Raven had gone alone; no Titans, no Constantine.

Unless she played her hand better than Slade had, then this wouldn't end well for either of them.

"I'm here. Where is –

Raven saw his aura, and saw the image of her friend's constant abuse in the boy's unmasked eyes.

Slade came from out of the shadows as he stood before Richard, a hand then on the teen's restless shoulder.

Her own body tensed, with Slade's aura not being what scared her the most right now….

"Did you crawl out of your tower just to see him? Touching, but Robin doesn't need any friends."

Slade haunting threat was a message. "Because there is no longer a Robin to have such things as dreams of "becoming" a hero. Like, he had never existed, never was… I made sure to crush what your team was."

Slade was in heaven with that one.

"No more Titans, and a world without heroes or villains." Robin's shoulders got a massage from the man's two curled sets of fingers, around his surely frightened blades.

Raven's eyes stayed unlit, even if she wanted to stop Slade from doing more…

"Robin; don't listen, don't let him in! It's all hypnosis. That's how he's gotten t –

"Not likely." Slade interjected and loosened his hold, standing up taller again. "Richard, has better things to do than wallow in the past. Trigon wants you to rule at his side; he told me…."

Slade linked his hands behind his back. Prostrated like a soldier beside her friend, as Robin stayed quiet.

Slade's eye narrowed at only one word; one that sent Raven, over - board.

"Also, he'd love for you to join him in running the family business –

"Never!" Raven spat. "Robin isn't going to let you do anything to him…I'm not going to give -

"Raven…"

Slade waited as his apprentice tried to speak. "I can't do it…. I need this…. you have to, just….do, what he says..."

"Robin… Don't listen! Don't you see?…This is all just a trick. Trigon is going to break his word. He's never supposed to be trusted. There is no –

"You forget…. I'm not one to go to war without a little extra protection." Slade concluded. "Apprentice, take her to her cell. You know where…and make sure your future princess, is comfortable. We have to keep Lord Trigon happy, at all costs…"

"Yes, Master Slade." Dick nodded and walked up to her.

Not even phased by what Slade had just done.

Raven's eyes turned bright. She put her magic to use, despite prior warning to keep it hidden.

"I'm not going along with this. You won't listen to –

~ It is you, who will not submit. Daughter…~

Raven soon fell to her knees, shaking. "Trigon!?"

/

"What's going on?"

Hawk Woman and Dianna got into their stances as an all - out alert had come through to the Watchtower.

A breach. Something was trying to enter their dimension.

"Trigon, is it?" Hawk woman asked Dianna. "Do you think it could be Bruce? So, where is –

~No way, lov. Batman, is lost. ~ Constantine and the Titans had left the Earth to regroup. Their portal had gotten smaller as the wizard had trouble keeping it wide enough to stick a leg through. They took their time, until the doorway had to be shut for good. Harley was conked out; to prevent anything from going missing, while Cy's systems looked to be jammed. No link. Rae was…

Bruised and concerned for their team's left-over pride, Starfire looked out as she floated up to the glass. A dark and ominous feeling eclipsed its moon. She frowned. Clutching her heart, Robin was…Raven…too.

"We found it; that mad master-mind you called "Deathstroke," is in the same league with the demon lord, Trigon. It's confirmed. And…Raven, needs our help." His blue eyes found Manhunter, who'd been inconspicuous the entire time.

"Your team - mates? And… Is she being held captive –

"Wayne's manor." Cy responded as he'd pushed through the vortex as well.

"Slade took it over; made it his stronghold, an' Rob and Rae are trapped inside. So is their butler, Alfred Pennyworth…An' I think Bruce Wayne is –

"He's lost, like I said." John rubbed his temples and ran a hand down his face, grumpily. "Trigon is coming; you've seen the signs –

~ The breach. ~ Manhunter nodded. ~ We've sent Superman out to scout the area. He and Green Lantern –

~ Report! ~

"That was fast?" Cy blinked up in amazement.

~We have intel that the "breach" is not a natural occurrence or anything scientifically biased…. Some… Magic, an' I can't trace where's it's goin' after this –

"Gotham." Constantine bit his cheek. "It's headed to Gotham, GL. And, with its new master on a chariot of fire an' burning horses. Just, stay back when it does." He warned the two space cadets. "We are about to view a bloomin' red earth, in only a matter of mere moments…." John leaned over the dashboard and left one "word" of caution to keep.

"Be ready to repent, you'll need every damn prayer the good book has to throw at em'."

/

Raven covered her ears. She didn't want to remember. Dick was standing over her. Some kind of collar around her neck…?

Engraved with archaic magic.

She panicked.

She was going to perform the ritual.

Trigon had been waiting all this time!

~I will not hesitate! Weave the spell – brand…Have my child fulfill her role! Do, as I command it!~

Slade nodded and went to where Dick was having trouble with the latch to Raven's collar as Raven's body stood, frozen by magic.

"Here…Like this, see?" Dick's hand was clasped tenderly to guide him as the sharp click, indicated a job well done. He pulled back with his master and saw as Raven's body moved like a living puppet up towards the ceiling.

As a portal, looking for the one to summon to it, to fulfill a prior prophecy.

"Rave –

"No, you must not interrupt the ceremony." Slade reminded his defiant apprentice. "Raven is going to fulfill her destiny. And…." Robin's jaw was tilted up, to look at the magic of a blood - red and demonic presence that was Trigon's freed soul from his dying world.

"We'll be well - rewarded. You said he made a pact with you, didn't you? Yet, apprentice…. I always have the upper hand." Dick gulped; the grip was tight round his neck.

"Raven wasn't saved. How could that be your promise…if you still hold to your desire?"

"Hah….!" Dick gasped as Slade dragged Dick forth towards him and with a click, he also was collared by his own master. Robin was shoved inside the summoning circle's throws as the payment was made. Dick shouted out, losing his mind in the process as the white magic was lost.

All good, gone….

Choking, as Raven looked down to cry, only to scream and cry out as her world also fell apart.

~ Because of my greed, I killed them…. ~

"Your "Robin" was payment." Slade said this to torture the boy as writhed in the light. "Your desire would only have been taken IF you had killed me before the ceremony was to occur. Small print; it ends up disregarded – I wonder why…"

As Richard's body twitched to feel, the face of another looked back from a pocket, light was lifting in white and red wisps from his body. The aura…of a hero…. A reflective pool of water, as his self was taken far from ...-

"NO!" He cried out and begged for it remain…He clawed at the magic circle that Raven had made a reality. Damning its usage and EVER wanting to know the man behind the mask…. He'd lost the earth to this creature of violent intent!

And as for Raven's prison cell? It WAS the summoning space! Slade had been busy; hiding away, keeping his bots from the Batman's eager eye. He'd planned this, to undo Robin's fate. Taking control.

Taking lives.

Stealing his protégé's virginity, without consent.

His pure humanity that was now trash!

"Nnr- nnnnnn- nunnnnA!" Dick tugged at the collar as his body lost to the dark influence that was Trigon.

"Nnno!…d…d…. o... n…tak…h…. e…rrrrrrr….!"

~ Your master is correct…Your pact is null. You could not finish the job…Raven will disappear; a doll to you, I have no longer a need of the child you knew…For I am free!~

Dick gasped at Trigon's large stance as he changed his size to nearly just tower over Slade. Yet, to meet his eye.

The devil grinned back at the mortal devil. A perfect bro -mance. From a safer distance, Richard looked over at Raven, finding her as…

Light…. now in a grey cloak.

Motionless.

"Raven!" He rushed to her, he recalled….

"No, that was…."

"Who…Wha…No…. I…. can't…. but…no!" Standing with his hands over his face, he shouted, while the big men talked of future wedding plans between malevolent rulers.

Until one of them stepped out of line.

/

"Welcome to your new citadel, or…Is that title a bit outdated?"

~ You have served me well, for this world is now red and the inhabitants, of stone hearts. I cannot wait to seek out where is to be my magnificent throne. Your child is akin to a demi – God as I've been able to discover. My daughter's memory is that of a drone. A servant to her father. ~

"I've kept the heroes from interfering, the patron hero of this fallen city, may only serve you. If you desire him –

"Bruce…What? That wasn't part of! –

"Quiet." Slade held a strange medallion with the mark of Scath in his hand. The collar tightened, making Richard's breathing hard, and his legs buckled. He had a new trigger to taunt the boy with.

"S…Slade…Hhaagh!" He flushed pink; it was…Electric…lust? His ass in the air with his face to the ground, Richard wasn't done flaring up with embarrassment. He snorted angrily at his master, yet Slade only shrugged the child's death - face, off.

"My apprentice needs some more training, but no matter."

~Yes, this world is almost as you said. I intend to let it burn as you corrupt more souls for me to devour. I've not visited this realm in a millennium…As long as you do this, I cannot break our bargain to have you and your apprentice as overseers in my name, seeing to this planet's protection. ~

~ Destruction! He's lying to –

Slade glared at Richard as his youthful mind soon went still. He gulped and went again to find Raven, to see if his memories…would…

He touched his own temples. No. The…it was all gone

He…was only Dick Grayson; now Nameless. His Master Slade's student. His….

His face went cherry red, again.

A memory he'd not hid deeply enough.

A, lover? No…his pet…? Dick, shivered and shook his head with a furious blush. But….no! He was more!

Richard tried to wake up the girl. He called her, Raven? Right? Was that her name? With shaking, gloved fingers, he pushed her up in his arms, to see…. if she would remember anything. If he could just…

~She's too young…No, this isn't –

~Robin?

/

"Anh...That…. Agh…it's no… No wonder." M'Gann tried to get back her concentration.

"What did you see in there?" Bb jumped up as M'Gann's ability to leave Earth in a hurry, had the Titan hoping that their time – blast to the past – project would be finished in time to fix Slade's new utopia back to the one the heroes had fought to protect…

"He's there, and…. There is definitely a dark aura or energy in that room. It's double what I noticed from his or Slade's, in Bluudhaven…." She tied the rest together and threw away the key.

~ Then even with your armies, Trigon has no other weaknesses. ~ Jonn Jones shook his head. The Martian kindred were not willing to die like with their fight with braniac.

"He has to have some ulterior motive. That is not the real Robin…. our Robin…He would not do these things." Starfire turned determinedly to her team. "He would not attack me or shout at his friends…There is a cure…. A cause…and you must find it!"

"Rob is just as much a victim, Star. We know now that he's not trying to have us destroyed." Roy was unhappy to admit, but his mind had changed. He'd seen the kid's eyes back there. They were in pain. A lot of pain; he'd been keeping the Titans safe, but Batman…

Was not a part of their deal. Slade could destroy them whenever he wanted, which lead to…

"Robin, he did not…Did it actually happen as you said? John?" Hawk Woman turned to the magician as he winced. "You sort of discovered it?"

"Bruce clued GL in, but all confidentiality aside, you kids would want to know…about, your leader. Have a seat…"

/

Starfire couldn't talk, at all. She was either white hot with rage or….

Completely shaken with remorse.

Bb's eyes stayed on the floor by his feet.

Cy was angry, he wanted to punch anything.

And Roy…He had a feeling. Yet, Slade was closer than he'd liked to picture…

Robin was Slade's apprentice, but he'd been not only brainwashed by drugs, the Nano - bots' control and magic, but with Slade's domineering sexual abuses. In other words, he was raped. Only when he failed to be as the man wanted.

Willing. Committed. The perfect apprentice.

And now, he had his obedience "student" and Raven's capture to make it all quite clear.

Robin was his. No one else's.

Clark was also hollowed out as Starfire; their alien natures had a lot to decipher. As far as GL, Wonder Woman and Martian Man Hunter – M' Gann and …. Where was KF?

A ping at the entrance had the heroes turn to see Kid with a new guest.

"I brought someone who can help." He readily introduced his newest ally – or this new, rather…very pretty and confident sorceress.

Bb gawked and pointed.

"Jinx?" He exclaimed, breaking their moment of silence.

/