Without the Mask
By Sava Varen
Quick Notes:
Disclaimer in prologue. Yep, it is. Go and see if you don't believe me. :)
WereWolfHowl- yeah, that's what I thought. :P I think this might clear things up. I've decided to try something different for this chapter in hopes of bringing it up a bit more. Tell me what you think. Thank you! :) Though to be honest, this chapter was quite fun to write! Especially the dream sequence!! I think that's the best part of the story yet!
Sara- why thank you! Oooo, not fun at all! My uploads have been down lately for the same reason. Blah! Yeah, Krissy is starting to clear up. I had to give her Valentine's Day card to her crush for her since she was out. So cute! Little Krissy is in love! Awwwww!! Thank you! Glad my work is "GREAT". But, I still feel I've altered their persona's somehow...*to self* Must try to visualize them saying and doing that, must try to visualize them saying and doing that, must try...oh, sorry! :)
Thank you all! Btw, that request from the last chapter still applies until I say otherwise.
Chapter 10: Without the Mask (wonder where I've seen that before...)
~Poem by me, Sava Varen (see my DA gallery for more info.)
Terra couldn't sleep that night. She's had a weird nightmare. It started out in a desert like place with telephone poles and wires leading to nowhere. It was really hot and dry. The ground was covered in blood mixed with reddish-orange sand and bones. She walked for a really long time and soon she heard the sound of a crow. It flew by her ear making her hair blow into her face a little. She watched the crow continue into the distance unfazed by her presence as if she belonged. Suddenly, the scene changed to the city. She was in the middle of the street standing there as the cars passed by. They too were unfazed by her being there. It was so scary. What was wrong with them? They should be stopping and yelling for her to move. She sighted the stairway to the subway and quickly dashed for it. After jumping half way down the steps, she stopped and glanced around. For some reason, the pitter-patter of water dropping from the side of the left far corner attracted her full attention. Everything seemed to be moving either in slow motion or fast forward. The water dripped slowly and the sound waves of the dropping effect sounded loudly. A screeching sound filled the room along with the very distant sound of voices. The people were in fast-forward as well...except one. She recognized him. He was in normal motion and turning to face her. It was Slade! Everything on him was normal. His mask, suit, armor, etc. Her breathing was slowing but her mind racing so fast it was hard to focus. Suddenly, Slade's mask shattered into a million pieces, he quickly covered his face with his hands. The shattering mask sounded like glass when it's shot and falling to the ground. That's what it looked like while it lay there on the floor too. The lights started to flicker violently in slow motion and the water stopped. Slade kneeled to the ground with his hands covering his face and he turned from her. Then, in an eerie voice (resembling what Arwen sounded like in the Return of the King when she was walking through the church-like halls of Rivendell and saying a poem about Aragorn being king), Terra started to say in poem. Without the mask,
Where will you hide?
Do I need to ask,
Is it your time you bide?
Terra paused and glanced around. Nothing was normal, yet it was at the same time. Terra looked down and continued to recite the words that somehow came to her without her even knowing where they were from.
Without the mask,
What do you look like?
Fulfill the task,
No need to psych.
Slade stood and backed into the shadows still hiding his face. Terra, yet again, continued.
Without the mask,
What is it like in your psyche?
Water in the flask,
Will refresh and refill thee.
The water came flowing down the steps leading to the street in waves and covered the ground up to her ankles. Still, she continued to recite.
With out the mask,
Will you face me?
Will you show,
Will you smile,
See the black crow,
Fly over a mile,
But will you smile,
Without the mask?
Slade's voice then answered. "No..." it was a low whisper and yet it echoed. Terra's eyes widened at a sudden pain in her heart. Suddenly, Slade was in front of her. One of his hands was covering his face. Only his left eye showed. He reached out with his other hand and slid his smooth fingers up her chin to her cheek. Her skin seemed to be burning and it blew off with the breeze in ashes. She gasped feeling the burning sensation and suddenly the subway was filled with a strange, deep noise. Then, the whole thing ended with a scream and a burning sensation all over her body. That's when she woke, covered in sweat from the burning. When she reached up to touch her face, the skin that had burned off in her dream was there once more.
"What kind of dream was that?" she asked herself in disbelief that she'd ever conjure up something so frightful and deep.
She had a sudden fear of Slade. The dream was getting to her. Terra stood up from her bed and walked to the mirror on the wall. Looking at herself, suddenly said:
"I look like I'm dead...or going to die..."
Her face was so white, her lips a purple color, and her eyes now ice blue. Before Terra even knew what she was doing, she was walking silently through the halls to Slade's room. She knew she shouldn't, but she had to. Opening the door, Terra cautiously entered. It was extremely dark and she became scared.
'Why do I look? Why do I always have to look?' She thought as she made her way to Slade's bed. Terra gazed upon Slade. He had his mask off! His face...it was nothing like his stern persona yet exactly like it at the same time. His face was so young and smooth. She'd have given anything just to be allowed to feel the features. Seeing his wonderful and perfect face, she no longer had any fears of him she...loved him. She was now realizing her similar feelings for Slade like he had for her. He just had a hard time admitting to it...a very hard time. Terra smiled at the thought of Slade trying hard to put her, Terra, from his mind. When Terra looked up at the wall, she spotted a deep dent in the wall! Wow, he was trying REALLY hard! He was that much in love? She walked over to examine the wall. She slid her hand lightly over and in the hole.
"Terra? What are you doing?" Slade had woken up!
Terra swung in his direction.
"I...I..." Terra stuttered.
"You shouldn't be in here!" Slade towered over her, his hand over his face like he'd done in her dream.
Remembering the dream suddenly, she fell back and yelled out. This surprised Slade. He quickly put his mask on and tried to help Terra up but she crawled back in fear.
"Terra! What's going on?"
"Leave me alone!" She got to her feet and ran out the door.
"Terra!! Come back here! I want an explanation now!!" Slade yelled angrily.
But Terra kept running. Slade wasn't too far behind her. The horrible dream was repeating itself in her mind and the burning returned once more. Terra soon started to feel weak and her running slowed until finally she had to lean on the wall in order to stay standing. Slade's footsteps seemed to have disappeared. She'd lost him...or so she thought. Breathing heavily, Slade's hands spun her around so she was facing him.
"What is going on?" he demanded forcefully.
Terra sobbed, put her face to the left, and closed her eyes tight.
"TERRA!" he shook her.
After finally figuring out that using force was partially what was scaring her and that it wasn't going to work, he soften up for her.
"Terra, tell me what's wrong. I'm not going to harm you. You know that." He said softly as he pushed a tuft of her hair behind her ear.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. He went to caress her cheek but for some reason that scared her. Slade paused as she closed her eyes tightly and whimpered.
"Terra, why are you so afraid?" He continued his action and caressed her cheek.
Terra whimpered a bit at first, but after seeing her skin wasn't burning to ash like in her dream she relaxed. Then Slade noticed that she was burning hot.
"Terra! You're not ill are you?" he wiped away her sweat on her forehead so he could check her temperature.
"I'm not sick..." she said weakly.
Terra stepped back a bit from Slade and looked away. All of a sudden, the ground started shake violently. Terra did what she could to hold her balance while Slade did practically nothing and still held perfect balance. After the shaking stopped, Terra was on her knees. She looked up at Slade.
"How do you do that?" she asked as she got to her feet.
"You'll learn eventually."
A giant piece of the ceiling fell and landed right behind Terra. Not expecting that, Terra jumped forward, slipped, and fell right into Slade! He tried to move so that she didn't fall on him, but slipped himself and fell backwards...Terra right on top of him! Lifting her head from his chest, she looked at him blushing deep red. Right at that moment, Slade was very thankful for his mask, cos he was blushing as well. Finding himself, he grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up off of him. For a moment, Terra thought he had other intentions, but relaxed seeing he was just helping her up.
"What was that?" she asked still very embarrassed and blushing.
"You mean that wasn't you?" he raised an eyebrow under his mask.
She shook her head.
"Stay here." he said sighing and starting to run down the hall.
If his plan had gone well, it was the Titans. He'd set up a trap for them. When he sent Terra for the disk (there was no use for that after all) he had a second tracking device built in Terra's clip. When he arrived, he'd attached the tracker to Robin secretly. They must've found it the day after. It would lead them here. They were probably trying to put a hole in the wall to get in. He found the wall that was in question and waited. Soon, Beastboy busted through in the form of a dinosaur. Beastboy changed back and said:
"Hey, lookit that. I made a door and took what? Ten seconds."
"Trying three minute and you'll be close BB." Cyborg said patting Beastboy's head.
"Same thing." Beastboy said in annoyance.
"Welcome Titans. I've been waiting." Slade said, a smirk under his mask.
Robin ran to front and center. "You were planning this?"
"Yes. Why would I be so careless as to leave something that could lead you to me and attack at any given time out in the open? I wouldn't."
Slade knew Terra would show up soon. And when she did, it was on. She'd try to kill them. He'd have to hold her back if he saw any chance of recruiting them. The Titans grew impatient with him.
"What are you to?"
"Oh, you'll see Titans. You'll see." Slade laughed. "Three...two...one..."
"Slade! What's going on?" came Terra's voice from behind him.
The Titans had obviously expected a bomb of some sort because they jumped when Terra had called to him. Terra stopped and gasped at the Titans. She gave them an evil and disgusted look.
"Just in time..." Slade chuckled.
Terra looked at him. "'Just in time'?"
"This is where we decide whether the Titans will join or die." Slade said.
"Neither! Cos we're gonna kick your butt!" Cyborg yelled.
For once Robin was silent. Instead of staring hatefully at Slade most likely what he would be doing, he stared questionably at Terra.
"I see you've made your decision Terra." Robin spoke up. "You want to be our enemy?"
"Yous are my enemy!" she spat.
Slade laid his hand firmly on Terra's shoulder. He leaned down and whispered into her ear:
"Do not kill them. Just weaken them. I'll be helping. And watching."
"Alright." She agreed.
A/N: Well, I guess you could call this a cliffhanger...I actually enjoyed writing this chapter whether or not it alters personas or whatever. I think the dream sequence is the bomb. Again, the almighty Krissy helped with the production! BOW TO HER ONCE MORE!!! Anyway, this isn't the final battle and it's far from the end. I know it may seem like it, but believe me; I'm not done yet! Well, thanks for all the reviews and all the help. I hope this brings everything back up. Thank you all!!
Quick Notes:
Disclaimer in prologue. Yep, it is. Go and see if you don't believe me. :)
WereWolfHowl- yeah, that's what I thought. :P I think this might clear things up. I've decided to try something different for this chapter in hopes of bringing it up a bit more. Tell me what you think. Thank you! :) Though to be honest, this chapter was quite fun to write! Especially the dream sequence!! I think that's the best part of the story yet!
Sara- why thank you! Oooo, not fun at all! My uploads have been down lately for the same reason. Blah! Yeah, Krissy is starting to clear up. I had to give her Valentine's Day card to her crush for her since she was out. So cute! Little Krissy is in love! Awwwww!! Thank you! Glad my work is "GREAT". But, I still feel I've altered their persona's somehow...*to self* Must try to visualize them saying and doing that, must try to visualize them saying and doing that, must try...oh, sorry! :)
Thank you all! Btw, that request from the last chapter still applies until I say otherwise.
Chapter 10: Without the Mask (wonder where I've seen that before...)
~Poem by me, Sava Varen (see my DA gallery for more info.)
Terra couldn't sleep that night. She's had a weird nightmare. It started out in a desert like place with telephone poles and wires leading to nowhere. It was really hot and dry. The ground was covered in blood mixed with reddish-orange sand and bones. She walked for a really long time and soon she heard the sound of a crow. It flew by her ear making her hair blow into her face a little. She watched the crow continue into the distance unfazed by her presence as if she belonged. Suddenly, the scene changed to the city. She was in the middle of the street standing there as the cars passed by. They too were unfazed by her being there. It was so scary. What was wrong with them? They should be stopping and yelling for her to move. She sighted the stairway to the subway and quickly dashed for it. After jumping half way down the steps, she stopped and glanced around. For some reason, the pitter-patter of water dropping from the side of the left far corner attracted her full attention. Everything seemed to be moving either in slow motion or fast forward. The water dripped slowly and the sound waves of the dropping effect sounded loudly. A screeching sound filled the room along with the very distant sound of voices. The people were in fast-forward as well...except one. She recognized him. He was in normal motion and turning to face her. It was Slade! Everything on him was normal. His mask, suit, armor, etc. Her breathing was slowing but her mind racing so fast it was hard to focus. Suddenly, Slade's mask shattered into a million pieces, he quickly covered his face with his hands. The shattering mask sounded like glass when it's shot and falling to the ground. That's what it looked like while it lay there on the floor too. The lights started to flicker violently in slow motion and the water stopped. Slade kneeled to the ground with his hands covering his face and he turned from her. Then, in an eerie voice (resembling what Arwen sounded like in the Return of the King when she was walking through the church-like halls of Rivendell and saying a poem about Aragorn being king), Terra started to say in poem. Without the mask,
Where will you hide?
Do I need to ask,
Is it your time you bide?
Terra paused and glanced around. Nothing was normal, yet it was at the same time. Terra looked down and continued to recite the words that somehow came to her without her even knowing where they were from.
Without the mask,
What do you look like?
Fulfill the task,
No need to psych.
Slade stood and backed into the shadows still hiding his face. Terra, yet again, continued.
Without the mask,
What is it like in your psyche?
Water in the flask,
Will refresh and refill thee.
The water came flowing down the steps leading to the street in waves and covered the ground up to her ankles. Still, she continued to recite.
With out the mask,
Will you face me?
Will you show,
Will you smile,
See the black crow,
Fly over a mile,
But will you smile,
Without the mask?
Slade's voice then answered. "No..." it was a low whisper and yet it echoed. Terra's eyes widened at a sudden pain in her heart. Suddenly, Slade was in front of her. One of his hands was covering his face. Only his left eye showed. He reached out with his other hand and slid his smooth fingers up her chin to her cheek. Her skin seemed to be burning and it blew off with the breeze in ashes. She gasped feeling the burning sensation and suddenly the subway was filled with a strange, deep noise. Then, the whole thing ended with a scream and a burning sensation all over her body. That's when she woke, covered in sweat from the burning. When she reached up to touch her face, the skin that had burned off in her dream was there once more.
"What kind of dream was that?" she asked herself in disbelief that she'd ever conjure up something so frightful and deep.
She had a sudden fear of Slade. The dream was getting to her. Terra stood up from her bed and walked to the mirror on the wall. Looking at herself, suddenly said:
"I look like I'm dead...or going to die..."
Her face was so white, her lips a purple color, and her eyes now ice blue. Before Terra even knew what she was doing, she was walking silently through the halls to Slade's room. She knew she shouldn't, but she had to. Opening the door, Terra cautiously entered. It was extremely dark and she became scared.
'Why do I look? Why do I always have to look?' She thought as she made her way to Slade's bed. Terra gazed upon Slade. He had his mask off! His face...it was nothing like his stern persona yet exactly like it at the same time. His face was so young and smooth. She'd have given anything just to be allowed to feel the features. Seeing his wonderful and perfect face, she no longer had any fears of him she...loved him. She was now realizing her similar feelings for Slade like he had for her. He just had a hard time admitting to it...a very hard time. Terra smiled at the thought of Slade trying hard to put her, Terra, from his mind. When Terra looked up at the wall, she spotted a deep dent in the wall! Wow, he was trying REALLY hard! He was that much in love? She walked over to examine the wall. She slid her hand lightly over and in the hole.
"Terra? What are you doing?" Slade had woken up!
Terra swung in his direction.
"I...I..." Terra stuttered.
"You shouldn't be in here!" Slade towered over her, his hand over his face like he'd done in her dream.
Remembering the dream suddenly, she fell back and yelled out. This surprised Slade. He quickly put his mask on and tried to help Terra up but she crawled back in fear.
"Terra! What's going on?"
"Leave me alone!" She got to her feet and ran out the door.
"Terra!! Come back here! I want an explanation now!!" Slade yelled angrily.
But Terra kept running. Slade wasn't too far behind her. The horrible dream was repeating itself in her mind and the burning returned once more. Terra soon started to feel weak and her running slowed until finally she had to lean on the wall in order to stay standing. Slade's footsteps seemed to have disappeared. She'd lost him...or so she thought. Breathing heavily, Slade's hands spun her around so she was facing him.
"What is going on?" he demanded forcefully.
Terra sobbed, put her face to the left, and closed her eyes tight.
"TERRA!" he shook her.
After finally figuring out that using force was partially what was scaring her and that it wasn't going to work, he soften up for her.
"Terra, tell me what's wrong. I'm not going to harm you. You know that." He said softly as he pushed a tuft of her hair behind her ear.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. He went to caress her cheek but for some reason that scared her. Slade paused as she closed her eyes tightly and whimpered.
"Terra, why are you so afraid?" He continued his action and caressed her cheek.
Terra whimpered a bit at first, but after seeing her skin wasn't burning to ash like in her dream she relaxed. Then Slade noticed that she was burning hot.
"Terra! You're not ill are you?" he wiped away her sweat on her forehead so he could check her temperature.
"I'm not sick..." she said weakly.
Terra stepped back a bit from Slade and looked away. All of a sudden, the ground started shake violently. Terra did what she could to hold her balance while Slade did practically nothing and still held perfect balance. After the shaking stopped, Terra was on her knees. She looked up at Slade.
"How do you do that?" she asked as she got to her feet.
"You'll learn eventually."
A giant piece of the ceiling fell and landed right behind Terra. Not expecting that, Terra jumped forward, slipped, and fell right into Slade! He tried to move so that she didn't fall on him, but slipped himself and fell backwards...Terra right on top of him! Lifting her head from his chest, she looked at him blushing deep red. Right at that moment, Slade was very thankful for his mask, cos he was blushing as well. Finding himself, he grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up off of him. For a moment, Terra thought he had other intentions, but relaxed seeing he was just helping her up.
"What was that?" she asked still very embarrassed and blushing.
"You mean that wasn't you?" he raised an eyebrow under his mask.
She shook her head.
"Stay here." he said sighing and starting to run down the hall.
If his plan had gone well, it was the Titans. He'd set up a trap for them. When he sent Terra for the disk (there was no use for that after all) he had a second tracking device built in Terra's clip. When he arrived, he'd attached the tracker to Robin secretly. They must've found it the day after. It would lead them here. They were probably trying to put a hole in the wall to get in. He found the wall that was in question and waited. Soon, Beastboy busted through in the form of a dinosaur. Beastboy changed back and said:
"Hey, lookit that. I made a door and took what? Ten seconds."
"Trying three minute and you'll be close BB." Cyborg said patting Beastboy's head.
"Same thing." Beastboy said in annoyance.
"Welcome Titans. I've been waiting." Slade said, a smirk under his mask.
Robin ran to front and center. "You were planning this?"
"Yes. Why would I be so careless as to leave something that could lead you to me and attack at any given time out in the open? I wouldn't."
Slade knew Terra would show up soon. And when she did, it was on. She'd try to kill them. He'd have to hold her back if he saw any chance of recruiting them. The Titans grew impatient with him.
"What are you to?"
"Oh, you'll see Titans. You'll see." Slade laughed. "Three...two...one..."
"Slade! What's going on?" came Terra's voice from behind him.
The Titans had obviously expected a bomb of some sort because they jumped when Terra had called to him. Terra stopped and gasped at the Titans. She gave them an evil and disgusted look.
"Just in time..." Slade chuckled.
Terra looked at him. "'Just in time'?"
"This is where we decide whether the Titans will join or die." Slade said.
"Neither! Cos we're gonna kick your butt!" Cyborg yelled.
For once Robin was silent. Instead of staring hatefully at Slade most likely what he would be doing, he stared questionably at Terra.
"I see you've made your decision Terra." Robin spoke up. "You want to be our enemy?"
"Yous are my enemy!" she spat.
Slade laid his hand firmly on Terra's shoulder. He leaned down and whispered into her ear:
"Do not kill them. Just weaken them. I'll be helping. And watching."
"Alright." She agreed.
A/N: Well, I guess you could call this a cliffhanger...I actually enjoyed writing this chapter whether or not it alters personas or whatever. I think the dream sequence is the bomb. Again, the almighty Krissy helped with the production! BOW TO HER ONCE MORE!!! Anyway, this isn't the final battle and it's far from the end. I know it may seem like it, but believe me; I'm not done yet! Well, thanks for all the reviews and all the help. I hope this brings everything back up. Thank you all!!