Teen Titans: I Need Her
Chapter Seven: It's going to be a doozy...
It took Robin almost two hours to get home as he stayed in the room for some time, pondering everything that had happened lately. He returned to the Tower around four in the morning and was surprised to see one of the many windows lit up. He trudged up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, hoping that whoever was up would quickly go to bed; he didn't feel like talking to anyone about anything and all he wanted was to go to bed and forget about how bad he had messed up.
When he finally reached the main living area he thought he was home free because all of the lights were out, save for a small light above the stove which was always kept on for those who liked a late midnight snack. He smirked a little and went to head down the hallway that housed his room when a noise startled him.
"I didn't realize you needed that much time to think," a voice growled at him from the dark. Robin spun around and tried to see his companion, who was calmly drinking coffee at the kitchen table.
"What are you doing sitting here in the dark, Cy?" he asked, skirting around Cy's accusation. "It's almost four in the morning, you should be in bed by now."
Cy set his mug down and Robin could see his red inhuman eye glaring at him through the darkness. "You've been gone for over five hours," Cy answered back. "I was worried; you haven't disappeared like this since..... well.... since Rae left...."
Robin flinched at the mention of the ex-Titan and lowered his head, hiding the tears that were now pooling in his eyes.
"I didn't mean to worry anyone," he said silently. "I was just out at a club, trying to clear my head, that's all."
"A club, huh?" Cy asked, setting his mug down and moving to stand in front of his tormented leader. "You didn't drink did you? I only ask because I care about you man and I'm just worried. You haven't had a drop of that stuff since Raven left and I know this crap that's going on with Slade and Raina is driving you up a wall, I just want to make sure you're doing okay."
"I'm fine," Robin said, looking down at his shoes. "I didn't drink, I just like the atmosphere; it helps me organize my thoughts, that's all. And I don't intend on drinking anytime soon either....although I seem to muck things up just as bad when I'm drip-dry sober."
He said this last part to himself but Cyborg caught it and battled whether or not to even bring it up. As he took in Robin's disheveled state, he decided it would be a good thing to try and discuss, even if it was four o'clock in the morning.
"You wanna talk about it?" Cy asked, placing a large metal hand on his shoulder. "I mean, you know I'm here if you ever need to talk about anything, right?"
Robin looked up and gave his good friend a small smile. "Yeah I know Cy. Thanks."
"So?" Cy questioned, sitting down on the couch and motioning for Robin to join him. "You gonna talk to me or what? Do I got to drag it outta ya? I know it's late, but I'm up, you're up, and no one else is; this is the perfect time to talk about stuff and I promise everything you tell me stays with me.
"And I don't judge either. This will be a purely doctor-patient conversation and I promise you that I won't blow up if you say something I don't really care to hear. I will be completely impartial. So, come on and spill Bird boy."
Robin sighed deeply and looked back and forth between the hallway where his bed was calling his name and the hard, uncomfortable couch cushion where the large metal man was asking him to spill everything, including stuff that would probably cause a very painful fight after it was divulged; but after everything that had happened lately, Robin felt that he didn't deserve to just go to sleep and forget about his indiscretions and walked dejectedly over next to Cyborg and sat down.
"Well, Cy," he began nervously. "It all started a little over a month ago. I, um, er.....I came home one night from the bar and I ran into someone when I got home and, well, something happened."
"Something happened?" Cy asked suspiciously. "What kind of something are we talking about here? Was it something good or bad?"
Robin shifted nervously on the couch and looked away from his friend's intense gaze. "Well, I think you could take it either way; I mean, it could have been a good thing if everything hadn't played out like it did, in which case it then turns bad.
"I kind of, um, I guess I wasn't in a right state of mind and when I came home I ran into Raven and we, well, we kinda, sorta slept together. But I guess I was drunk enough to royally screw things up and then when I went to go talk to her the next morning, she must have already left."
Cy just sat there and rubbed his chin with his finger. "So, let me guess: you've been feeling pretty crappy lately, thinking that maybe you were the reason for Rae leaving the Titans, huh?"
Robin just looked at his friend with wide eyes and slowly nodded. "Yeah, I feel like shit, well lower than shit. I feel like a prick, no lower, I feel like a dick.... no I take that back. I feel even lower, like a rubber dick in shit. I can't help but blame myself for driving her away. And you wanna know the sad thing Cy?"
"You were in love with her," he stated simply, answering his leader's question. At Robin's look of bewilderment, he chuckled and continued. "Yeah, yeah, I kinda have known all along. I mean, you never were as discreet about it as I'm sure you thought you were; well I saw it at least and I'm pretty no one else saw or they would have said something.
"Besides, Raven told me how she felt about you quite a long time ago and I did everything I could to make her happy once you and Star started dating because Rae really deserves it ya know? I went so far as to even introduce Star and Roy when I knew he harbored a major crush on our little Tamaranian. I apologize for that man, I didn't know all the trouble it would cause, but I knew you and Raven were destined to be together and I was just trying to move things along."
Robin smiled and patted Cy on the back. "Thanks for looking out for her and for everyone else. You're not mad at me though for sleeping with Raven like that? I mean, I know you're kind of like her big brother and I almost expected you to throw me out a window or something."
Cyborg just laughed at him again. "Well, personally I wish it wouldn't have been handled like that, but it happened and nothing can change that, not even me throwing you out of a window. I knew it would have happened eventually, but you shouldn't blame yourself for Rae leaving. That really isn't her style and I've been thinking a lot lately that maybe, just maybe her leaving wasn't anyone in the Tower's fault.
"I suspect foul play, but I have nothing to go on but my instincts and so I've been trying to find some type of proof that could lead us to where she is. I mean, it seems just a smidge bit weird that something huge happens between you and Dark Girl and then suddenly, she disappears and as soon as she's gone, Slade pops back up with a new and sexy apprentice. Something smells crappy here and I don't think it's BB's tofu either."
"Yeah I think something happened to her too," Robin agreed. "I have no idea what and I think maybe Terra agrees with us too."
Cy just nodded. "So what else is bugging you man, because I know that's not it."
Robin gulped and started twiddling his thumbs in distraction. "Yeah there's more, but I don't think I want to tell you. I know that you totally handled the whole Raven thing pretty well, but I don't know how you're going to handle the rest of everything; it's pretty bad and I don't feel like being in a body cast for the next two months."
"I told you," Cy said. "Anything you tell me I will take completely impartial and I won't get mad at anything, even if it's something as awful as secretly working with Slade, or falling for Raina, or suddenly becoming gay or...." He stopped as Robin started to cough and eyed him darkly. "Okay, which one is it? And please don't tell me it's that you're a flamer..."
"Raina," Robin said meekly as Cy let out the breath he had been holding. "I don't know what came over me Cy, but I found myself falling for her and I couldn't stop myself. I can't get her out of my thoughts and all I do is think about how beautiful she is and how much I want her....So, when I went to the club tonight, I happened to run into her and something happened again.
"I lost all of my senses and I slept with her. But the worst part? I think, Cy, that maybe she was actually in love with me, because I kinda might have called her 'Raven' and she flipped out on me and left. I mean, first I lost Star, then Raven and now Raina; I swear, I shouldn't be allowed to be around women anymore, I just end up screwing things up majorly."
Cyborg was quiet for a long time and Robin started to get extremely agitated when he still hadn't said anything after almost ten minutes.
"Cy!" he begged. "Please, say something! Anything!"
Cyborg just looked at him and that damn red eye of his just glared in the darkness. "Listen, I'm not mad or anything, I mean, you are incredibly vulnerable right now and I definitely see how you would have fallen for someone like Raina.
"And who knows? Maybe Raina isn't as evil as we all think she is; maybe she's just another helpless victim of Slade's, like you and Terra were. But what I think you need to do, is decide once and for all who it is you love more than anything. Who is the one you couldn't live without if you had a choice? Once you figure that out, then I'm sure everything will work out fine and you'll feel tons better."
"You really think so?" Robin asked.
"No, I don't think so," Cy said, standing up and making his way upstairs. "I know so. 'Night Rob. Go get some shut eye and sleep on everything, I have a feeling we're going to have a big day later on."
Robin mumbled 'Good night' to Cyborg and silently followed him down the hallway. He didn't really think sleep would help him one bit, but the second his head hit the pillow, he fell right asleep and dreamed of the girl he loved more than anything.
BANG BANG BANG!
Jinx woke with a start as Mammoth pounded on her door, telling her that Slade wanted them ready and in the main room in fifteen minutes. She cursed as she sat up from the floor, nursing the kink in her neck; her face felt all splotchy and damp and her hair was in a complete mess from being curled up on the floor. She felt slightly sick as she remembered the events from earlier in the morning as she managed to haul herself upright.
She walked to her bathroom, took a quick five minute shower and got dressed, carefully using her hexes to short out her hair dryer to make her hair ready and raring to go in less than a few minutes. All the while getting ready, she thought about Raina and how awful Slade had treated her. Of course he had treated all of them quite cruelly over the years, but this was the first time she was actually afraid and ashamed to be working for that madman.
I don't know why I'm so upset, she thought, looking over at her clock, noting it was only noon and she still had a few minutes to get downstairs. Raina disobeyed Slade and she deserved what she got... But then, why do I feel like I'm going to throw up? Maybe it's because I actually liked Raina; I mean, she was like my best friend...like, a, a sister to me. I've never had any family, thanks to those stupid scientists who made me, but I felt....good...around Raina. I can't believe I'm even thinking this, this blasphemy! It's completely unheard of, considering what I know about her. But, no one else has ever made me feel like that. Well, Stone did, but that was all a lie and a completely different situation to boot.
Jinx stopped pacing in her room, which she didn't even realize she was doing and started to walk towards the main room while her thoughts reorganized and began to nag her once again.
What Slade did to Raina wasn't right, she acknowledged to herself. Raina didn't do anything wrong! Apparently, falling in love wasn't impossible for Slade's new little 'pet' and I don't think he counted on it. I wish I could feel that way about someone, well someone other than...WAIT! Now is not the time to think about him, I mean IT! Damn, I just need to find Raina and get her alone somewhere and talk to her about what happened. I need to help her in any way possible; she doesn't deserve to be here, she doesn't belong and I intend to make sure she is gone as soon as possible.
Jinx sauntered into the main room before anyone else, laughing to herself because they all had been up for quite a while. She looked around for Raina but couldn't find her; soon enough Gizmo and Mammoth ran in just in the nick of time as Slade came walking into the room for their meeting. Slade stopped in front of the three of them while they were sitting in their respective seats at the table and smirked at them.
"Alright then," he said. "Now it's time to get on with business. We have a busy day ahead of us concerning the Titans and we need to get moving. I want to launch another attack on them later this evening and everything needs to be perfect. I have a feeling that this time, it will be a catalyst of sorts and the Titans will fall tonight. For the first matt— "
"Wait a sec," Gizmo interrupted, earning a reproachful glare from Slade, which he didn't seem to notice. "Why are we the only ones here? I mean, where is that snot-munching Raina of yours? I don't think she should be entitled to skip out on missions because she did something stupid like fucking some crud-brained super hero! That's just not fai— "
Gizmo screamed as Jinx casually flung a small hex at his chair and he fell on the floor, knocking his brainless head on the table in the process.
Stupid little git, she thought with a smile on her lips. But at least he was the one who asked about Raina. I could only imagine what Slade would have done if I hadn't interrupted; and to think, that coulda been me!
Slade only chuckled, sending shivers down Jinx's spine. "Dear boy, Raina is not exempt from this mission. Her little....defiance.... from last night set aside, would not make her unable to fight tonight. On the contrary, Raina has resumed her original demeanor and was in here hours ago, waiting to be briefed on the mission. Since she had nothing else to do, I sent her to do some individual work for later on. In fact, here she comes now."
Jinx glanced nervously from Slade's creepy grin to see Raina walking down the hallway and into the meeting room. She looked exactly as she always had, Well, maybe not always, Jinx mused quickly. But she didn't look the same; something was different about her and Jinx couldn't put her finger on it. She walked the same, her hair was the same, her body was the same, her eyes were the same and she couldn't find out what was wrong with her. That is, until Raina spoke and it all became clear to Jinx what had happened.
"I trust everything I asked you to take care of is done?" Slade asked her.
"Yes Sir," she replied coldly, making Jinx's skin crawl even more than Slade's laugh had. "Everything is in order and as you requested."
Slade nodded and continued on briefing the other three H.I.V.E. members, but Jinx was only half listening, more focused on watching Raina as though she were an alien. As Slade left them to their own devices, Jinx hopped out of her chair and ran up to catch Raina as she headed toward the Training room.
"Hey Rainy," she called after her. "Wait up I need to talk with you."
Raina turned around, apathy written all over her face and Jinx blinked at the uncanniness to the now dead Raven.
"Wow," Jinx murmured before speaking to her. "I mean, can I talk to you? About last night? You seemed really upset and now you're acting as if nothing is wrong."
Raina only blinked at her and Jinx thought she saw a sliver of emotion fly across her face before it was back to the blank canvas it was when she first was getting situated here.
"That's because nothing is wrong," Raina answered. "Last night was last night and now everything is as it should be. I am as I should be."
Jinx detected a hint of sadness in her voice and persisted.
"Come on Rainy," she pleaded, something she had never done before. "You can tell me. I won't tell anyone and I promise I just want to know what happened to better understand everything. Because, personally, you're kind of creeping me out here."
Raina entered into the training room and headed into the showers, Jinx trailing and determined not to let her get away this time. Jinx watched as Raina turned on the shower closest to her, and then the next one, and the next and so on. Jinx stood there, confused, not knowing what her friend was doing, until she stopped in front of her and started to whisper. Jinx finally understood she was masking the noise because she didn't want anyone to hear anything.
"Last night," she began. "Was a mistake on my part. I did what Slade asked of me, but in the process, I thought I fell in love. In the end, I was wrong and I got hurt; I thought I could make Robin love me, but he is in love with a ghost and there was only a snowball's chance in Hell for me to take that spot on his heart.
"That's why I have come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter where I am or who I am with, because I am destined to be alone and miserable. So whether I am with Slade or the Titans, I don't belong with either and I am waiting until this is all over and I can just leave and be alone for good. Crawl into a hole somewhere and die, because no one cares for me and no one ever will; I won't be missed once this is all over."
"How can you say that?" Jinx practically screamed at her. "How can you believe no one would miss you? Slade doesn't matter of course, but I'm sure Robin is just an ass who doesn't know what's good for him. But what matters, is that I would miss you Raina! You, you're like a sister to me and I would throw myself into a pit of fire if you died; you're the only reason I'm even still here.
"If you walked out today I would just follow you because you're my friend. And if you knew me way back when, me saying this to you is pretty much a sign that the apocalypse is coming and I don't care! You're my friend Raina and I promise you everything will be all right in the end."
Raina smiled half-heartedly, but it did not reach her eyes. Jinx looked into her eyes at that moment and suddenly noticed they were not as bright as they normally were; in fact, they were starting to look a murky color as if two colors were trying to merge into one. A light bulb went off in Jinx's head and she was overcome with a feeling of queasiness as she thought of what that might mean.
"Raina," she asked, unsettled. "I know this isn't really the time to bring it up and it is kind of off topic, but have you taken your injection this morning? You know, the one that helps you control your 'powers?'"
"No," she replied, ending their conversation and turning all the faucets off with a flick of her wrist the right amount of her 'orange magic.' "Slade said he wanted me at my fullest potential tonight. Said he had big plans. I don't care anymore. So, if you'll excuse me, I need to train some before tonight; in the immortally stupid words of Gizmo: it's going to be a doozy."
With that, Raina walked off and left Jinx to her own thoughts as she pondered everything Raina had told her.
So Robin broke her heart, she thought finally moving to walk back into her room. Well that's nothing new there, he seems to have a habit of doing that. But she decides that she is worthless and doesn't belong anywhere because of it? And then Slade didn't give her the chemicals today? Something sure is going down tonight and I don't think 'doozy' is a strong enough word for it.
Jinx closed the door to her room and started thinking about her role in the mission for tonight. She had a pretty important role, compared to her other two partners, but Jinx decided her role was more pertinent than even Raina's was tonight. She set about fine-tuning the details while practicing her own moves in the solitude of her room.
The Titans didn't do much that afternoon, at least nothing extremely out of the ordinary, and they were enjoying the time off. But Robin knew the peace and quiet was too good to be true, especially when him and Cyborg were the only ones who knew what had transpired in the wee hours of the morning between himself and Slade's new apprentice. That was why when, around ten o'clock or so, he was already suited up and ready for a battle when the red light and alarm went off in the Tower, awaking its inhabitants from their restful state of mind.
"Titans, trouble!" Robin said in his 'leader-voice' BB had dubbed it. "Looks like Slade is deciding to make an appearance at an old abandoned pier. H.I.V.E. is there too, but no sign of Raina yet."
He gave out orders and everyone set about getting ready to ship out and head across town; Cy silently held back to talk to Robin and make sure he was okay with all this. Robin reassured him that he was ready for anything and he wouldn't let last night get in the way of his performance on the battlefield. Starfire took to the skies with Beast Boy as a pterodactyl and Terra decided to use her rocks for a higher route.
Speedy, Robin and Cy all hopped in the T-car and followed underneath them, going just as fast. The car ride there was quiet as Robin used the time to push all previous thoughts of the redheaded beauty out of his head and used the time, instead to think of the one who truly mattered to him. Pulling up to the pier, Robin hopped out of the car and silently made a vow that he would find her once this was all over and he would tell her he loved her.
This one is for you Raven...
Inside the building by the pier
Seeing as how easily they were defeated last time they split up, the Titans decided to stick together for as long as possible upon entering the building, everyone having someone else's back. It was pitch black inside so Star lit up her hands and Cy turned on his shoulder light as they moved deeper into the eerily quiet, all prepared to attack and defend themselves in a flash. They walked for another five minutes before making their way inside a huge, open room and they all knew the battle was about to begin.
As if they were reading their thoughts, a few lights turned on and close to two hundred Slade-bots swarmed the heroes, signifying the beginning of the massive battle Slade had planned. Within a few seconds, the Titans were split into small groups as they tried their best to defeat the numerous robots; and they were winning, that is, until the H.I.V.E. students popped in out of nowhere and began to target certain Titans.
Terra and Starfire fought back to back, defending each other as the robots swarmed them, Terra using her powers to throw small rocks at them, almost mimicking Star as she used her starbolts and eye beams to do the same. They had greatly thinned the ranks around them and were feeling victorious as a barrage of pink hexes flew at them out of nowhere and Jinx entered into the fray, taking the two girls down within a few minutes. They fell into the shadowed corners and Jinx watched in triumph as she noticed a large claw closing over their limp bodies and next thing she knew, they were gone, leaving no traces behind whatsoever.
Speedy and Cyborg were fighting a ways off but he immediately noticed when the green light emitted from his fiancee died down and he could no longer hear her battle cries. He screamed her name as he dashed toward the last spot he remembered her being, taking out dozens of robots with his arrows as he ran; Cy turned around and decided it would be better if he chased his teammate down to keep him from doing something incredibly rash and stupid.
But as he began to run, a metal claw reached out from the darkness and yanked him backward, throwing him against the wall. He quickly regrouped his senses in time to roll away from Gizmo's metal legs as they struck down to squash him. He jumped to his feet and opened fire on the metal munchkin with his laser cannon, narrowly missing him as the smaller boy wove back and forth away from the blasts.
Robin and BB had teamed up, with BB turning into various large animals to smash the robots surrounding them and Robin using his martial art abilities and his bo-staff to destroy the hated machines. Off to his left he saw the blue streams of Cyborg's cannon and he was glad he was at least still standing; he had already seen the dim of Starfire's powers and he could only hope that her and Terra were unharmed wherever they were at.
Suddenly he heard a loud scream followed by a throaty chuckle and he knew that Speedy was now down for the count. The Titan's numbers were quickly dwindling and it seemed the robots were only gaining power and increasing in numbers as well.
Jinx slipped through the mass of robots as she made her way over to help Mammoth as he made his way toward Beast Boy and Robin. She personally wanted to handle Robin, just so she could teach him a lesson so that he could never hurt someone like he had hurt Raina ever again. She smiled, thinking of how easy the distraught young archer had been to take down; reveling in the painful expression he had expressed before she took him down with her hexes and his body joined those of the other Titans.
She saw Mammoth out of the corner of her eye, battling with the green changeling and she knew he had done as she had requested and left the fearless leader just for her. Her eyes glowed a bright pink as she advanced on the unsuspecting hero as another Titan's yells pierced the darkness.
Beast Boy was caught off guard as Mammoth snuck up on him while he was battling a swarm of bots and he screamed as the giant teen hit him from behind and he was sent spiraling out across the floor. As he was struggling to get up, Mammoth had run over and BB thought this was the end, for the brute was sure to crush him before he could morph or roll out of the way.
He closed his eyes and waited for the impact, only to open them a second later and see Cyborg ramming Mammoth and throwing him against a wall. Gizmo was apparently defeated and BB silently thanked Cy for his life-saving interruption. He quickly got up, morphed into an elephant and began to charge at Mammoth while he was still trying to recoup.
Robin could sort of see the green elephant charging across the room and he was about to go and help but as he turned his attention back to the last few robots around him, he noticed a pink hex flying his way and he quickly ducked, as it hit the remaining robots and dismantled them. He stood up, whipped out his bo-staff and prepared to face the cotton candy-haired sorceress.
"Tsk Tsk, Robin," Jinx purred, just standing there, staring at him in the dim light. "You weren't supposed to duck. It would have been so much easier and much less painful than having to face me. After all, you've destroyed the only friend I have ever had and I'm taking it just a tad bit personal!"
With her last words, she executed a perfect cartwheel and fired off at least ten hexes, each one slightly missing him, and then a final hex that cut into his upper arm. He reached up to assess the damage done and pulled away with blood on his hands. He growled and ran at Jinx, the two battling greatly with hand to hand combat in the dark. He was so focused on his own fight that he failed to hear the cries of Beast Boy and Cyborg as they fell to Mammoth and the recently awoken Gizmo. Their bodies were gone as quickly as the others, with Mammoth and Gizmo disappearing as quickly as they had arrived.
Robin's fight with Jinx intensified as she taunted him and teased him to fight harder.
"Oh come on," she cried, jumping back to miss the swipe of his leg on the ground. "I know you can fight better than that. Hurt me already! Hurt me just like you hurt Raina!"
Robin was ignoring her earlier pleas, but when she brought the new apprentice in, his voice betrayed him and he spat back at her.
"She deserved it," he growled. "Just as I'm sure you do. She was nothing, just like you and I don't know what the hell I ever saw in her!"
Jinx flipped back as he came swinging at her again and she threw another hex at him and he had to stop for a moment to avoid it. He looked back up and saw her just looking at him, anger rising in her eyes and her fists clenched at her sides. He barely even heard her words as a deafening sound filled his ears.
"Raina is more than even you could ever know," she murmured to him as a giant orange claw sprang up from the darkness and threw him across the room and pinned him against the wall, a good ten feet or so in the air.
Jinx slunk back into the shadows and Robin squirmed against the magic holding him, but it was to no avail. He looked around and could see no trace of his friends or of their bodies and he silently wondered what had happened to them all. As if on cue, an all too familiar voice wafted out from the darkness in front of him, making him stiffen at the tone.
"I wouldn't worry about them," Raina stated as she appeared out of nowhere, hovering in the air a good ten or fifteen feet from him. "They aren't in as much trouble as you are."
Robin's insides shuddered from how cold and uncaring her voice had become; just last night it had so full of love and merriment and sensuality. Now she was just a shell of her former self and her voice wasn't the only that had changed in their short time apart.
She still physically looked the same, if not a bit shorter, but she was still different somehow. Her hair wasn't the bright red beacon it had been at the club and her skin looked as if it were turning gray. Her eyes were a dull, murky orange and they even seemed a bit more wide than before. She flew closer, making Robin squirm as he knew not of her plans.
"Leave me alone Raina!" He shouted, hopefully sounding more brave than he felt. "Let my friends go and stay out of this! This is a fight between me and your boss, Slade. Let's just forget about everything and I'll let you go and you can go on and live your miserable life somewhere else. Just please don't do this!"
Raina only smirked, making her face seem hollow and gaunt as the smirk didn't seem to extend past her lips. She moved closer still, only much slower and Robin could see that she was fighting something inside of her and that something might be winning.
"I don't think pleading is going to get you out of this one Robin," she replied, finally stopping about five feet from his suspended body, never letting her powers slip on his hold.
"Yes dear Robin," came a voice from behind her. "Pleading might have got you somewhere last night with Raina, but I don't think those kind of tactics are going to have the same effect on me."
Robin looked past Raina as her face turned to have a disgusted look on it and saw a few lights turn on, highlighting a suspended walkway across the middle of the room and four menacing figures atop it. Suddenly, Gizmo shot out a couple metal spikes at Robin and pinned him to the wall, letting Raina's powers have a break so she could do with him as she pleased. Slade only smirked as Robin glared at him and his lackeys next to him; this was going exactly as he planned, and soon he would reveal his greatest secret and, by doing so, destroy the Titans completely.
"Slade," Robin yelled. "Why don't you have your stupid little cronies let me go and come fight me face to face? Or are you too afraid I might win?"
Slade's smirk fell at his words and clasped his hands behind his back.
"You might sound brave and fearless Robin," he cooed. "But you seem to forget that I hold one major card over you: your friends."
He snapped his fingers and in a second, five orange colored orbs hung from the ceiling on all sides, each enclosed with a Titan inside, fighting to get out of their unbreakable prisons. Robin saw his friends trapped and with no escape for him either, wished for the only thing that could ever possibly save them.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to wish impossible wishes, Boy Wonder?" Raina spat at him. "So just give it up now, she is never going to come back. You might as well wish for a miracle then."
"You never know Raina," Robin grunted, malice in his eyes. "She might come back if she knew we were in trouble. Like I told you before, Raven was everything you could ever hope to be and more. And I stick by my words from last night: you are evil, inhuman and worthless. No one could ever love you."
"Such harsh words," Slade interrupted, glaring at the dueling duo. "But I would watch what you say about Raven to my dear apprentice; it happens to be a touchy subject, in case you hadn't noticed that already last night. You see, Raina has a...history, I guess you could say.... with your precious little bird. I think it might be time for you to learn her biggest secret, Robin. Don't you agree, Raina?"
Robin shifted his gaze back to Raina as her eyes widened and she suddenly looked fearful as tears pooled in her wide eyes, her familiar, wide eyes. She subtly shook her head back and forth but Slade just ignored her and continued on.
"Well if Raina is too shy to relay her greatest achievement," he said. "Then I guess I'll just speak up for her momentary loss of words." He paused and began to ruminate as Robin looked back and forth between Raina and Slade and the two shadows behind him.
Wait, Robin thought while Slade chose his next words, going for the dramatic effect as always. Only two shadows? Who's missing? And where did they go?
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard Slade beginning to talk yet again.
"You see Robin," he said. "Before I found Raina and took her in, she had engaged in a drastic battle with someone and everyone involved was either quite damaged or permanently damaged. Would you like to know who she fought? And who won?"
"No," Raina whispered, shaking her head back and forth violently, shutting her eyes tightly. "No, no no no no. Please don't, don't say it! NO, no no, NO!"
Slade ignored her pleas and continued in with a smile.
"My dear old ex-apprentice, your little lover there fought none other than your ex-lover," he laughed. "Yes, Robin. Raina was caught in a battle with your precious little half-demon Raven. And I think you can tell who won."
Robin's eyes widened as he heard Raven's name and his rage grew tenfold.
"What did you do with her Slade?" he screamed. "What did you do with Raven?"
"I didn't do anything with your sweet Raven," he cooed, humor evident in his voice. "But Raina there, well, she killed her. By the time I found Raven, she was already too far gone for even me to torture."
Robin's eyes teared up as he yelled in anguish and the other Titans all collapsed in their bubbles at the news that their friend was not simply on a break, but was, in fact, six feet under and obviously had been for some time. Robin started to feel his breath hitch up in his chest and he did the only thing he could think of, he yelled at the person responsible.
"You killed her?!" he cried in defeat as Raina's eyes flew open as she realized he was screaming at her. "You killed my Raven? I can't believe you knew all along you had done that and you lied to me about it! I can't believe I ever thought there was something worth saving in you! You are awful, even worse than Slade.
"I don't ever want to see you again; I would rather kill you now and let you know how she felt before you ripped the life from her. And for what reason? What did Raven ever do to you? Unlike you, she was good and she would never purposefully hurt someone who wasn't pure evil to begin with. Why did you take her away from me?"
Raina's cold facade finally broke and her tears fell freely as she fought the randomness in her head and Robin's accusations. She didn't know what to think anymore and she was beginning to feel rather fuzzy and couldn't concentrate much. Her hovering body was faltering a bit in the air and only Slade knew the reasons why, everyone else assumed it was her guilty conscience taking over.
"I didn't know I killed her," Raina replied, strained. "Not until a little while ago. I didn't know who she was or what she meant to you. I didn't mean to kill her, I swear! I don't even remember fighting her; Slade told me she attacked first, but I don't remember anything. I don't, I just don't!"
Robin couldn't believe what was coming out of her mouth and he could only think of one thought that kept repeating over and over again in his head.
"I hate you," he said low at first, before escalating to a strong, hateful yell. "I HATE YOU RAINA! I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU! I. HATE. Y— "
Before he could finish, Raina's body convulsed and her head drooped down and a few stray lines of her orangish energy shot from her fingers, slicing off the tips of the sprinkler systems and within seconds it had started to rain.
Slade started to laugh as Raina screamed out in pain, the water washing all remaining traces of her life down the drain.
"Now Robin," he shouted to be heard over her wailing and the sprinkling water. "Keep your eyes on my now ex-apprentice as she reveals my greatest secret."
Raina's body twisted in mid-air and her screams sounded so painful, but they were nothing compared to the pain caused by Robin last night, at least she didn't think so. Physical pain she could handle, but the heartache he caused was entirely another issue in itself. Images flashed in her head, mostly of him, of Robin and all their moments together. His kiss, his touches, his betrayal, the alcohol on his breath, anything and everything about that night. Robin stared in wonderment as the girl in front of him seemed to change before his eyes.
As he stared at her, the water seemed to wash the red out of her hair like it was hair dye, leaving only a dark, intoxicating lavender color. The orange aura around her seem to dissipate and was replaced by oddly familiar black energy, twisting to break free and protect its owner. Suddenly the screams stopped and her head snapped up, eyes full of confusion and hurt and betrayal and fear.
Eyes, Robin realized as he lost his breath for a moment, eyes that were wide and beautiful and loving; wonderful eyes that he loved to look at, intense, gorgeous, rapturous violet eyes...
"Raven...." he whispered to the dead girl floating in front of him, the girl he loved more than life itself. "Raven, is that really you?"
Raven's eyes focused on him as he was still pinned against the wall and she looked so lost in that moment.
"R, r, Robin?" she questioned, seemingly fearful of the answer. "Where am I? What happened? The last thing I remember is being with you and then talking to Terra. Then Slade kidnaped me and held me captive in his dungeon where he, he tortured me and he, he broke me and then it's all a blank, a dream, I think. Robin, I'm scared. I don't remember anything!"
Robin just smiled at the fact she was back, but something wasn't settling with him.
"Everything is going to be okay Raven, I promise," he whispered to her before looking over her shoulder at Slade. "Why did you say that she was dead Slade? Was that just another one of your twisted mind games?"
Slade just smirked and moved one of his hands back to the railing in front of him, keeping the other concealed behind his back.
"Oh, I didn't lie to you," he said. "Raven was dead. On the inside anyway; all her memories and everything about her, save for her physical form, were dead. But that's all about to change, I'm afraid."
Robin didn't catch the malice in his eyes and was, instead, focused on the fact that Raven had flown closer to him, ignoring Slade, but she stopped a foot from him as if she remembered something.
"Robin?" she asked. "Why were you screaming at me just now? Why did you say you hate me? Was I right in believing our night together was a lie and that you never really loved me? Do you truly hate me?"
"Raven," Robin cooed. "I could never, ever ha— "
"Robin!" Raven cried suddenly breathlessly, interrupting him and staring at him, horror and pain written across her delicate features, which were almost hidden by the long hair she now possessed. "Help....me...."
Robin stopped and followed her gaze as she looked down; she moved her hands away from her bare abdomen and, as soon as she did that, Robin saw the trail of dark crimson leading down toward the floor. He looked back up in her eyes, fear clouded his vision as her perfect orbs glazed over and she silently, but gracefully, plummeted to the cold, hard ground beneath her. Robin looked up directly across from him and saw Slade toss aside a gun equipped with a silencer and leap down from the walkway and make his way towards the fallen Raven.
"Now," Slade mused, as he got closer to the dying bird. "It is time for you to see my master plan, Robin. You see, I never originally intended to use Raven as my apprentice, it just sort of happened that way. I actually had planned just to kill her and take her powers and use them how I saw fit. So now, dear Robin, you finally get to see me actually kill your precious Raven for real. Say good bye, Robin."
"NO!" Robin screamed as he watched Slade land by Raven's convulsing side and as he kicked her hard in the stomach, causing her to cry out and spit up more blood. Slade continued to kick her and Robin could practically see the life draining out of her.
This is too much, his brain screamed at him. First I thought she just left me and then Raina comes along and I manage to lose her too. Then they tell me Raven is dead, but she really was Raina, just under the influence of Slade's chemicals and now, I finally have my Raven back for good. But Slade is taking her away from me yet again and this time, no amount of chemicals will bring her back; and I am powerless to stop it.
Robin jerked his gaze back to Raven as she lay battered and bruised at Slade's feet, blood spattered all over his boots and her skin and it was also now pooling around her frail, petite body as she lay there, motionless. Robin didn't care anymore and he let his tears fall onto the floor as Slade bent down and snapped the pendant full of Raven's powers off her neck; her body spasmed for a moment with the shock treatment Slade installed in his new device before settling back down.
And that was it, no going down in a blaze of glory like they had imagined any Titan would have, no incredible battle, no sacrificial risk, no nothing. One bullet and a few swift kicks and it was over; she was over, her life was over. Slade looked up and smirked at all of the crying Titans and grabbed the powerful pendant triumphantly in his hand.
With one final movement, Slade brought his leg back and kicked Raven's lifeless body one more time and pushed her out of his way and into the dark shadowed recesses of the building. He looked to Robin next and, without words, told him to be prepared because his battle was next.
Cyborg couldn't believe his eye as he saw Raina who was actually Raven as she fell to the floor, blood and pain everywhere surrounding her. He cried for his fallen friend out of his good human eye and he was so wrapped up in his grief that he failed to notice the shadow sneaking up behind him. He was startled when they whispered to him, telling him to keep quiet, that Slade had gone too far this time and that they were here to help. Cy couldn't help but smile as his new friend worked on freeing him, glad that he was being given the chance to avenge his best friend's death.
She was like a little sister to me, he thought as he waited patiently, itching to use his cannon against Slade and his cronies. And nobody, I mean, nobody messes with my family and gets away with it...
A/N: Alright there you have it: the long awaited chapter of I Need Her. I can't believe I actually finished this. But I spent from five o'clock this evening until 4 am working on it just so I could make all y'all happy! I just hope you like it, I mean, I am not that good at writing fight scenes, so sorry if those are awful. I apologize for any and all errors that might be in here; it was so long that I, in fact, didn't have to energy to go through it and search for mistakes, so please forgive me! It's kinda long too, but I had a LOT to say and I didn't want to leave anything out and I figured all my faithful readers would enjoy the longevity of the climatic chapter. So, review and let me know what you think! L8R Daze!