Ok people, I have finally returned to you, and with a vengeance… Not against you, but I mean I have come back with… You know what, screw it… I have finally returned after a month or two with the longest chapter I have ever written in my life… But first, the reader response thingies…
RayRayOtega: Well, I am glad you thought that the last chapter was the best so far… A lot happened and the fight with Venom was pretty fun to do… He may not have all those powers in the cartoon and original comics, but he can so something like that in the new comics, and I'm all about the new… And yes, the Titans have met their match, as you will see in this chapter… I hope you think this chapter is even better than the last…
jbtheman: Yes, I know you had that idea to make Deathstroke a symbiote creature, but he was in my story first so there… Haha, just kidding… We talked about this stuff already so no need to go further… And yes, I did know what you were talking about with the perfection of fried chicken… Good stuff…
Corsair: Yeah, I'm forgiven… Please forgive me again… Glad you think this is an awesome story… Hope this chapter continues the process of being great, and to leave you wanting more… But I don't think Spidey and the Titans will be crossing over into any other shows any time soon… Not into that stuff… But, still glad you like this story…
Absolutely Pointless: I'm glad you thought it was awesome… But, I think you will be pleasantly surprised how kick ass this one will be… I think it is even more kick ass then the last one… Though, the final fight isn't in it… I know, I know… I promised it would be, but I almost fried my brain doing this… Don't worry though, this chapter still delivers… Too bad about Venom… And the part with BB and Black Cat, I had to have some sort of comedy in it, and what better way to do that then to have the flirty Black Cat mess with the hormones of a teenager, let alone BB… Haha, that was fun… Anyway, sorry for the late update, but I think you will agree that it was worth the wait…
Gundamknight: Yes, Deathstroke is going to be a major problem for the Titans, as you will see in this chapter… But I gotta tell ya, I am getting sick and tired of you asking me to put your character in this… It isn't going to happen… 1) This story is almost done and adding some random new guy right now would be rather pointless… 2) If I wanted to add him in, I wouldn't know what I would do with him, he would have nothing to do with any other characters… 3) Not my character, or one in the series, so I don't care… Sorry to put it so bluntly, but asking me to do something I really don't want to do can get on my nerves… Hope this doesn't make you hate me and stop reading my story though… I'm just being honest…
Soon to be world renown Gracie: Still waiting for the world renown part… Haha, just kidding… Well, you saw the picture and I hope you liked it… I was a little disappointed that hardly anyone wanted to see it though… Only 3 people asked… Makes me sad since I am more of an artist than a writer… But enough with this sad crap… On with the story…
Ok well, I have spent the better part of the time I was away reading Spidey comics and watching the Teen Titans show… Didn't "Birthmark" kick all sorts of ass? Best episode by far and I now have a new favorite, which hasn't happened since "Nevermore"… Anyway, I tried to get a feel for what the symbiotes could do, and I got a pretty good idea… I also came across something about Carnage in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics that I thought was pretty bad ass, I had to incorporated it into this story… Good stuff man… Now, I know I promised the final fight to be in this chapter, but I just couldn't get it in there… I just kept coming up with more and more ideas to build up suspense to the final showdown… The ideas flooded my brain and I had to put them down… But my brain was fried afterwards, so I am sorry to say that the final fight will be in the NEXT chapter… I know I keep putting it off, and I am truly sorry, but this just makes my story even longer, allowing you guys to enjoy it longer… So be happy… Now, enough with my jibber jabbering… On with the story…
Disclaimer: I don't own the Titans or Spidey… If the owners are looking to sell though, I would be very interested… Tell me if they are… Please?
"Are you crazy! Do you have any idea what you are proposing? Not only has this never been done before, its forbidden."
"I know exactly what I'm saying and believe me, I have thought through all of the ramifications and I believe this is the best possible solution."
"But… but what if it doesn't… work?"
"Yeah, this has never been done before and we don't know what could happen after we're out. The unification may be stable in this abstract world of yours, but in the real world, anything could happen. It may be unstable and unforeseen problems could occur."
"I told you people I have thought this through. Believe me, I have thought about the risks, and other possible plans, but I think this is the best possible solution."
"But they are up against Slade. You and the others have fought him countless times without the need of this certain plan of yours. Surely we don't need to…"
"No. Do not forget that they are up against more than just Slade. They are going up against that black creature, Venom I think its name was. And besides, I sensed some strange form of power behind Slade's presence. Its something that I don't believe the other Titans can handle without the combined forces of our unification."
"Maybe, or maybe you just want to take the extra precautions of saving your new boyfriend."
"That is not the reason!"
"But she's happy with him. He makes her feel things she has never felt before. Why shouldn't she do everything possible to keep him safe?"
"Because its not safe. While I do understand your frustration, major complications could still occur."
"God, will you get off of that! You have already said that. If she thinks this is the best idea, then I say go for it. I'm just itching to kick some ass."
"Yes, well. While I do think this could be dangerous, if you feel this is the right move, all of us are behind you."
"Thank you, all of you. I truly appreciate this. I know its dangerous, but we have no choice. Now, we had better get started. I sense the Titans are already running into a bit of trouble."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Slade, what have you done to yourself?" asked Robin.
"I am no longer that pitiful whelp Slade. I am Deathstroke. But to answer your question, I have gained more power than you could possibly comprehend. You cant imagine the ecstasy of it all. The exhilaration, the excitement, the rush. And this body yearns for your destruction."
"You'll never win. We will defeat you, like we always have done before!" Robin yelled.
"Yeah Slade! I mean Deathstroke! I mean, whatever you call yourself again!" Beast Boy added.
"Robin, if you and your little teammates have defeated me, then why am I still here? And as for the name you little insignificant green speck, for the last time, its Deathstroke. But you wont be alive long enough for it to matter."
And with that, Deathstroke leapt at the Titans. They were able to side step his first lunge, leaving him surrounded by the battle ready Titans.
"You'll never win this battle Deathstroke" said Robin.
"My dear boy, I already have."
All of a sudden, tendrils exploded from the ground right behind Robin. He turned around in shock and was grabbed, due to being caught off guard. They started to yank him in every direction, threatening to rip him apart. Robin tried to break free from the onslaught of tendrils, but it was of no use.
Beast Boy morphed into a lion and charged for Robin. He started biting through the tendrils, desperately trying to free their bounded leader. But the tendrils that were cut started to wrap themselves around his face and throat and started to strangle the changeling. Beast Boy tried to cry out, but his throat was being crushed.
"Hold on there little buddy" Cyborg yelled as he rushed for his fallen friend. He started to grab and rip at the tendrils that were choking the life out of Beast Boy. The tendrils were strong though and didn't give way easily.
"Hey Star, Cat, a little help would really do a world of good" Cyborg called out.
Starfire flew to the aid of Robin who was doing his best to keep the tendrils at bay. He had pulled out two bird-a-rangs and used them like knives to cut himself free from the tendrils that were around him. But he was having trouble keeping every single attack away from him. Starfire started to blast at the tendrils that were trying to destroy him.
Black Cat came over to help out Cyborg and Beast Boy. She used her whip to attack some of the tendrils, but she recoiled it when she got in closer. The retractable claws in her gloves sprang forward and she used those to slice through anything that came near.
"What's with these things! When we destroy one, three more take its place! No matter how many we destroy, they just keep coming!" Black Cat called out.
"It doesn't matter. We have to keep fighting no matter what" Robin called back as he sliced through two more tendrils. When they hit the ground, the pieces reformed and resumed the attack.
Throughout their entire struggle, Deathstroke was laughing. Not only did the symbiote change his outwards appearance, it warped his laugh to something that was inhuman.
"Yes, yes! Keep fighting Titans until the very end! The symbiote is loving every bit of your struggle and torment, and so am I!"
Just as he said that, the onslaught of seemingly endless tendrils stopped their attack and seeped back into the fissure in the ground from whence they came. This left the Titans breathing heavily, trying to regain some strength. It also left them very confused.
"Dude… where did… those things… go?" Beast Boy wheezed out. He was still clutching at his neck.
"I don't know, but be ready for anything" Cyborg answered. He was pointing his seismic cannon at various random areas on the ground, waiting for anything.
"Look over there!" Starfire yelled out, pointing towards Deathstroke himself. All the others turned their attentions, and weapons, to where Starfire pointed out. "Look at his leg."
All the Titans turned their gaze downward to see what Starfire was talking about. And what they saw surprised them to say the least.
The tendrils that had attacked them were coming through various holes in the ground around Deathstroke's right foot. The tendrils seeped through the holes and rewrapped themselves into the suit, for it seemed they were attached to him the entire time the little battle was going on.
"You see Titans, you can never hope to win. For if you had that much trouble with just a few tendrils, what hope do you have when you have to face me?" Deathstroke again started to laugh in his sadistic tone. He was loving every moment of the Titans peril.
"Uh guys, I think we're in a bit of trouble" Beast Boy said nervously.
"No really. What was your first clue?" asked a frustrated Cyborg.
"Wait, where did Deathstroke go?" asked Starfire.
"Wait, WHAT! He's gone?" asked Cyborg. Everyone noticed that the laughter had ceased.
"Yes, that is what I said. Did anyone see which way he went?"
"Sorry, I was too busy arguing with tin-man here."
"This is not the time for jokes Beast Boy. This is a serious problem and we are in serious trouble if we cant find him. He could be anywhere" said Robin.
All of a sudden, more of that horrible laughter started to emit from everywhere. "Ah, my dear Titans, you need not look for me, for I am all around you. I am everywhere" came the disembodied voice of Deathstroke. His voice was echoing from every direction.
"Where did that come from?" asked a frantic Beast Boy.
"I don't know. It seemed to come form every direction" answered Black Cat.
Just then, one of the overhead lights exploded. Then, one by one, the rest of the lights followed, throwing the Titans into utter darkness.
"This isn't good" whispered Beast Boy.
"Cyborg, what do you're radars say?" asked Robin commandingly.
"I don't understand. On moment he's here," Cyborg indicated to the radar on his arm, "and next he's gone. My radars aren't picking up anything!"
"Damn. Well, he cant just disappear into thin air. Star, we need some light."
"Right." Starfire obliged to Robin's request and a star bolt appeared in her right hand, lighting up a good majority of the darkened room they were in.
"Does anyone see him?"
"I am sorry friend Robin, but I can see no one but us."
"Damn it, where could he have gone?"
"I haven't gone anywhere. I am right here" the disembodied voice echoed out.
"Where did that… show yourself you coward!" Robin commanded.
"Sorry, but I don't take orders form the likes of you."
All of a sudden, the green light from Starfire's star bolt diminished and the room was once again thrown into darkness.
"Star, why did you turn out the lights? We still need them. Star? Starfire!" yelled Robin.
Everyone turned to where Starfire should have been, but nobody was there.
"Dude, where did she go?" asked Beast Boy.
The only answer that they received was the sadistic laugh that seemed to emanate from everywhere from within the darkened room.
"What is going on? What is he doing?" asked Cyborg.
"Picking us off one by one" answered Black Cat.
"We need to get into a more defensive position. Cyborg, we need some light."
"Sure thinmph!"
"Cyborg? What's wrong? Are you still there? Cyborg!" Robin was getting worried and his frantic voice showed evidence of that fact.
"Dude he's… gone. Just like Starfire. This is getting freaky, just like a horror movie."
"This isn't television or some stupid movie Beast Boy. This is real life. This is really happening to us, and we are in real danger."
"I know. Its just yerk!"
"Beast Boy! Not him too! Black Cat, are you still there?"
"Yeah, I'm still here bird. What's the plan?"
"First we need to get close to one another so we don't get separated."
"Sounds good so far." And so the two teens started to find their way back to one another through the darkness. They kept searching until they touched one another.
"Hey!"
"Sorry, did I just…?"
"Yes you did."
"Oh, jeeze. I didn't mean… its just that… the dark, aw crap."
"Hey, no foul. But the next time you want to cop a feel, all you have to do is ask."
"Not now Black Cat. This isn't the time, nor the place."
"Ok then. So, now that we've found each other, what do we do next? Remember you're the leader of this little squad."
"We put our backs together so that nothing can sneak up on us."
"Makes sense to me. Alright, now what?"
"I'm still working that part out."
"Super."
"Well Robin, it seems you are having some trouble with keeping your team together." It was Deathstroke again. And once again, his voice echoed from everywhere.
"Show yourself Deathstroke. Why don't you come out and fight us like a real man?"
"Why Robin, I thought you knew already. I am no longer a man. I am so much more."
"You're a monster." Robin was getting angry.
"Well, that's one opinion."
"What did you do with the others?"
"I have disposed of them for now. But they are still alive, so do not be too worried, for now. You see, when I merged, bonded with the symbiote, I discovered something about it that I never knew. It had acquired a trait that the others never had when we bonded. And I must say, I like what I have found. The symbiote needs something else besides a host to survive. Sure, it may look like a defect, but I enjoy the feeling it gets immensely. The symbiote must acquire this thing from living beings, such as you and your friends."
"Enough with the blabbering. What are you talking about Deathstroke?"
"I must feast upon the life force of my victims!"
Just then, tendrils shot out and grabbed onto Black Cat, who shrieked in surprise. She quickly regained some composure and started attacking her mindless offenders with her retractable claws.
Robin in turn whipped around and started to help her by slicing through the tendrils with his bird-a-rangs.
"There's too many of these things bird boy!"
"Don't give up Black Cat. We cannot afford to lose here."
"Trust me, I don't plan on quitting anytime soon."
"That's good to hear."
"My dear Titans. I'm afraid you don't have any choice in the matter. But it is good to hear that you don't plan to quit. It should make this very interesting."
Right when the final echoes of the voice died away, tendrils shot out from the darkness above and gabbed hold of the arms, waist, and neck of Black Cat and started to pull her away.
"Oh, no you don't! You're not taking her that easily! Cat, give me your hand!" Robin reached out and grabbed hold of Black Cat's outreached hand. With all the strength he had, he started to pull her back against the will of the many tendrils.
"I'm not going to let go!"
"I'm afraid Robin that you will."
The tendril's strength started to increase and began to pull even harder on Black Cat. But Robin kept hold of his grasp and kept pulling back.
The tendrils started to ease up and loosen their grip on her, seemingly giving Robin the upper hand. But just as soon as Robin thought he was about to pull Black Cat free, the tendrils pulled back with greater force than before. It seemed that the creature behind the attack was just taunting and toying with Robin.
"Your efforts are admirable, but futile none-the-less." And with that, the tendrils pulled back, pulling both Black Cat and Robin forward quite a bit, but Robin soon regained his footing.
"Look at her face Robin. She must be in so much pain. Isn't it wonderful? Oh how I wish I could see it."
And indeed, Black Cat was in a great deal of pain. But as much as it hurt, her face showed no sign of it, as Deathstroke said it would. The only thing that could be seen through the darkness clearly was the expression on her face and Robin saw it. He knew what it was for he had seen it on every one of his teammates faces at one point in time. Fear.
"Please Robin, don't let go" she said in a quivering voice. It almost seemed like she was on the verge of tears.
"I… I cant hold on much longer! You're starting to slip!"
"Please!"
"You will let go Robin. You will fail. You will!" and just as Deathstroke said this, Robin's glove was ripped off, along with Black Cat, and was pulled back into the darkness. There was one final scream, and then there was silence, stillness. Nothing.
"No!" Robin yelled out as he dived for where he had seen her last, but he only grasped at air.
"Alone again Robin? Naïve little bird, I've told you this once before. As long as I'm around, you are never alone. But you wont be around much longer for it to matter."
Robin got up to his feet and pulled out his bo staff. He spun it around his head and brought it back behind his back with one arm, with the other out in front of him. "Come out and fight me! What's the matter? Too afraid to fight hand to hand so you just let your little tendrils do all the dirty work?"
Robin's only answer was silence, so he called out again. "Come on! Fight me like a man. Or are you changed so much that you cant even do that right?"
From behind Robin, a giant three clawed hand reached out and gripped hold of Robin's neck. He was pulled back with a violent jerk to come face to face with the bisected face of Deathstroke.
His fanged mouth opened up and the long serpentine tongue lashed out and started to caress itself all over Robin's face.
"Now now, don't be scared Robin" Deathstroke said in the strange double voice.
"I'm not" Robin choked out.
"Don't try and act all tough and brave. The symbiote can sense your fear. But why don't we just let your eyes tell me for themselves."
A tendril sprouted slowly from the arm that was grabbing Robin. It slowly moved up to his face. Robin tried to break free, but his struggles were in vain. The tendril grabbed hold of Robin's mask, and pulled it off, with agonizingly slow speed.
With the mask gone, Deathstroke could clearly see Robin's eyes, and just as he had said, they were filled with fear, but also with defiance.
Deathstroke smirked. "I am going to enjoy this." And with that, Robin was pulled into the darkness with a violent jerk, and then there was nothing. And silence resumed once more.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
She was starting to doubt herself. She had believed she thought of all the risks and was willing to do anything it took. But now, standing in front of the swirling portal that was the Forbidden Doorway, Raven wasn't so sure. She knew she had to do this, but the feeling she got from the pit of her stomach told her otherwise. Every time Raven took another step closer to the portal, the feeling grew more and more intense.
Would she give in to the doubts and forget about her plan? No, Raven knew what she had to do. She could sense her friends were in more trouble than they could handle, and this was the only way they could stand a chance against this new threat.
Raven took another step towards the portal. She was close enough to it to reach out and touch it. Her fingers hesitated inches in front of the portal, then they slipped though. That awful feeling came back, telling her this wouldn't work. It was stronger than ever now, and Raven retracted her fingers.
"No, I wont let my doubt cloud my vision. I know what I must do." She stared at the portal one last time. "I've come this far, and I'm not backing down now." And with that, she stepped through the portal and into the physical world.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
With a deep gasp for air, Raven opened her eyes. She was now on her bed with the magical mirror by her side, just the way it had been before she had entered her mind.
"Did it work? I don't feel any different. No change at all. Oh no, what if…?" Raven jumped from her bed and rushed over to the full size mirror she had on the other side of her room. What Raven saw filled her with relief and brought a smile to her face.
The image that stared back at her was Raven, only different. Her once blue cloak was now a pure spotless white. Her wrist bands and boots had also changed to white. She spread her arms and the cloak moved out of the way to reveal that even her once black leotard had changed to white.
Raven removed her hood to look at herself. She had to admit, she liked this new look. But it was only temporary, and she could feel it. Its effects would not last forever. In fact, Raven guessed that she only had around 24 hours until this change wore off, maybe less. Her smile faded and her hood was once again adorning her head.
"Hold on guys, I'm coming." Raven's eyes started to glow white under the shadows of her hood. She chanted her mantra, "Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos" and a black portal formed beneath her feet. She molded into the darkness itself, and disappeared.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
In a darkened, wrecked hallway, a black portal appeared out of nowhere on the floor. A white cloaked Raven rose from the depths of it, and once she was all the way out, the portal dissipated into nothingness.
"Slade's old destroyed base. This is where I told Robin where he would find Spider-Man and the evil that's holding him."
Even though it was almost completely pitch black, save for one single dim flickering light, Raven was able to traverse her way through the wreckage and debris that cluttered the hallway. All that time spent secluded in her darkened room was paying off.
Raven kept on walking forward until she came to a bashed in doorway.
'The door has severe dent marks in it, probably due to Beast Boy, and this has to have been recent. The dust has clearly been disturbed. Listen to me. I've been hanging out with Robin too much. His detective ways are starting to rub off on me.'
Raven quickened her pace and walked through the damaged doorway into the darkened room.
'Something isn't right, I can feel it. Something has happened to the Titans. Could I have been too late? No. No more doubt. I cant think like that right now.'
Raven walked further into the room, hoping to find some sort of answer. She noticed that the floor had been uprooted, uneven, due to some fissures in the floor. She continued to walk further into the room until she accidentally tripped over something that was lying on the ground. Raven stumbled forward and almost fell over. She turned around and bent over to find the thing that had offended her.
Raven's fingers touched the ground and she continued to slide her hand in the direction of the object. They finally touched something and what Raven felt was clothing. Her fingers then went across the surface of the object until the clothing ended and were now on something leathery.
'What is this?' Raven kept feeling around the object when her fingers touched something that almost felt like a chin line. She traced the outline of it up and down, just to make sure what she was feeling was what she thought it was.
'It couldn't be, could it?' Raven raised her hand and silently chanted her mantra. Her signature black energy surrounded her had, emitting just enough light to see at least three feet in front of her clearly.
Raven lowered her glowing hand towards the object, and what she saw made her stop dead in her tracks. She raised her fingers to just above her lips and whispered quietly in horror, "Oh my God."
What Raven had tripped over was not just an object, it was a human body, or at least, what was left. It was that of a woman, only it seemed like the life had literally been sucked right out of her. Raven saw two puncture wounds in the chest and figured that was were the attack had come from.
Her skin was a sickly discolored gray, paler than even Raven's skin. Her face was contorted in a horrible position, and Raven knew that the last thing this woman felt before she died was shear unimaginable pain. The skin was collapsing in on itself in certain areas around the cheeks and temples. Raven had to cover her mouth when she saw an insect of some sort burrow its way out of the hole in the cheek and crawl into the hole at the temple.
Dried up veins could be seen through the thin leathery skin. The mouth was opened in a dead lock. The lips seemed to have disappeared, for the skin around the mouth just melded into the teeth. The tongue was shriveled up and was lying limp against the teeth.
The woman's eyes had lost all color and now was a sickly obsidian black. They seemed to be staring right at Raven, questioning why she hadn't come sooner to save her. Her motionless hand was reaching out, and it looked like it was reaching right for Raven.
Raven fell backwards in horror and started to crawl her way away from the lifeless mummified corpse that was reaching out. Raven was crawling away, still facing the woman's dried up body when her hand brushed against something leathery that felt all too familiar.
Raven stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned to this new object with a feeling of dread, knowing full well what would be starting back at her. And she, unfortunately, was right. It was the mummified corpse of a man this time though. He had the same look of pain, same skin discoloration, same eyes, same puncture wounds, all the same features of the woman. And this body too was reaching out towards Raven it seemed.
Raven jumped up to her feet and started to back away from the pair of bodies. The light in her hand faded out as she backed away as she lost concentration on it. All that mattered was getting away from the bodies.
'What did this?' She kept backing away, trying to regain control of the overwhelming fear that was inside her, when her head was suddenly engulfed in what she thought were spider webs.
Raven frantically tried to bat them away when she noticed they weren't spider webs at all. She silently chanted her mantra, recalling the light that once surrounded her hand only moments ago.
Raven raised her hand up towards her face, closer to where the strands of, whatever they were, were hanging. The strands didn't look like spider webs upon closer inspection, even though they were white. She gathered a few in her hand to try and figure out what they were.
'This is.. This is hair. Human hair!' Raven quickly whipped around and raised her glowing hand up to where the hair seemed to be originating from. What she saw shocked her dramatically.
There, being suspended by an intricate and elaborate weave working of slimy red poles, was Black Cat. She was intertwined in the mesh of poles and it would take some work if Raven ever wanted to get her free. Her eyes were closed, but Raven noticed she was still breathing.
'If this is where Black Cat is, then where are the others? I hope they are close by.' Raven took a few steps to the right and noticed a hand sticking out of the weave working. Raven moved in closer and found out that the hand belonged to Starfire. She kept moving and soon found Cyborg, Beast Boy, Robin who was missing his mask, and some red haired guy she had never seen before.
'I have to get my friends out of here. But where is Spider-Man? I cant just leave him. But I cant just let my friends stay in this condition. I have to free them now and search for him later.' Raven went to the closest person, which was Robin, and started to try and remove him from the entanglements of the weave working.
Raven stopped what she was doing though when she heard faint footsteps from behind. She turned around and held out her glowing hand, attempting to illuminate the source of the footsteps.
"You know Raven, it is never wise to disrupt a spider's web" came a calm and familiar voice that Raven knew all too well.
"Slade. I should have know you had something to do with this" she said through gritted teeth, gesturing towards the others. The spider's web comment was bothering Raven a bit, but she pushed it aside, believing it was just another one of Slade's stupid notions to get inside her head.
"Ah Raven, always the perceptive one. Interesting fashion statement though. I must say, I like your new look."
Raven scowled at that comment. This was more that just a mere costume change. It was the way she would bring him down, once and for all.
"Ah, but you are not the only one who has gone through a change. I have become so much more than just Slade. Here, let me show you."
Raven wasn't sure what Slade was talking about, or what was going on in the darkness beyond the reach of her light. She started to hear a gurgling sound, and the sound of breaking bones.
'What is going on?' Raven could hear the sounds of muscles tightening, growing, and a strange slithering sound that seemed like Slade was being covered by something. A sound of bursting metal could be heard and a clatter as whatever had burst landed right by Raven's foot.
Raven slowly levitated the piece of metal up to eye's height, and her eyes widened from what she saw. It was the black expressionless half of Slade's bisected mask. She looked back up to the darkness and wondered what was happening.
A deepened sigh could be heard and Raven backed away a little bit. That sigh didn't sound like it could possibly have come from Slade. It was morphed. It couldn't have come from Slade, could it?
"Ah, that's better. I always get such a rush every time I do that. The pain, the ecstasy of it all. I need it. I crave it. I love every minute of it."
That was not the voice of Slade that Raven had heard earlier. It was altered, changed. It sounded a little bit like Slade, but there was another voice talking in unison with it. Two voices as one.
"Show yourself Slade" Raven called out.
"You know, Robin said the exact same thing."
Raven was getting agitated. Good thing she now had total control of her emotions for now. "Show me what you have become."
"Is that an order, a command? But I will oblige. After all, its only fair since you have shown me your new look."
Raven started to hear footsteps and braced herself for anything that could happen. The footsteps continued towards her and she held her glowing hand firm. But what stepped into the light, Raven wasn't prepared for.
It was the bisected face of Slade, but only the orange part of the mask remained, and that was all that had any resemblance to his former self. The other half of his face was that of the symbiote, which held a striking resemblance to Carnage.
"What's the matter dear? Are you not happy to see me?" he said in the two voices who are one. The symbiote side started to smile its fanged mouth, and the smile went so far back that Raven was surprised the top part of his head didn't fall off. A long serpentine tongue lashed out of the mouth, and the certain saliva that the symbiotes were famous for, started to dribble from it.
"Slade… what… what have you become?" asked Raven truly shocked. She took a step backwards, causing the light from her hand to recede from the creature before her. This action though only seemed to cast a shadow over the orange part of his bisected face, leaving only the side of the symbiote.
"I am no longer Slade dear Raven. No. I am now Deathstroke. And as for what I have become, I have become that which I have craved for so long. Absolute power."
Raven's eyes widened as a realization hit her like a ton of bricks. "It… it was you. You were the one that did this to my friends" she said, gesturing to the unconscious Titans. "You were the one who killed those people" she said while pointing in the general direction of where she had found the two mummified corpses.
"Oh, so I see you met the newly weds. Ah yes, I remember. So eager to spend the rest of their lives together. In their last moments of life, they cried out and tried to grasp each other's hand. They came so close, and yet, so far. I guess they didn't spend the rest of their lives together. Till death do us part I believe the vow goes." Deathstroke's smile grew as he said this.
Raven was clinching her fists the entire time, and she only noticed this when a small droplet of blood started to trickle down her hand. She hadn't realized how hard she was clinching. But it didn't matter to her. Nothing else did really. Slade had evolved into this monstrosity of a monster, and had committed unspeakable acts. Raven was going to make him rue the day he had messed with innocent lives. With her friends. With her.
Ok well, I'm gonna have to stop it there… DON'T HURT ME! I know, I know… It did not contain everything I said it would, but it was still good though right? Right? I thought it was… Took awhile to get everything down… Well, hoped you guys liked it… Don't expect the next one to be up anytime soon though… I will try and get it up, but my brain is more fried than an egg on the sidewalk in the middle of summer in Death Valley… So, like always, read and review people… Now then, I'm gonna go crash… Laterz…