Hey guys. Sorry it took so long to update, but this being the climax, I didn't want to screw it up. Maybe I still did, but at least I did my best.
alena-chan: LOL I'm glad you're happy about that. Thanks!
CalliopeMused: Hmm...well reviewers have been trying to break me of the cliffhanger habit for quite some time now, but they seem to be in my blood. Sorry it took so long to update, but I had some important things to take care of. Be patient with me, all will be explained in the epilogue.
Jordanals: Thanks.
CelticHeiressFiona: LOL I figured you'd like that. You'll see.
Al the Pirate: Yes sir...or ma'am...-munches on cookies- Fanks...
Dark-Magic67: Good, I was hoping you would be. LOL raged doesn't even begin to describe it. Hmm..that will most likely happen in the epilogue. Thanks!
Aeris-Raven: LOL yay! I'm glad you're glad. Thanks...and you'll see that very soon.
antiterra: Yeah, I considered leaving him dead for a little while, but that left basically no hope for Robin...so alive he is and has been since chapter 11. Should be in the epilogue.
Umbro Draco: -bows- Thanks! I was hoping you guys would like the fact that he's not dead instead of being critical. Yes, you should find out more about that in the epilogue...geez it's gonna be a long epilogue! Thank you, I tried to make them better than the rest, so the story can go out with a bang. Yeah, the romance has been sadly neglected thanks to Slade, but it should pick up...Hmmm...we'll see about the sequel ;) But if I write one, you had better review! Lol!
Mina: LOL -blush- Good...I was hoping you would. Thanks, I wrote it during extremely boring senior presentations...lol I guess I have a gift for blocking out noise. That's how I was hoping it would be...always good when you can picture what's going on. LOL yeah she does, determined little shorty...her powers weren't even functioning when she fought those robots...kid's got some serious spunk! You're not a dork, silly ;P Thanks!
Insaneiac The Maniac: Robin appreciates that statement. Well, darn he is immortal, if you want to get technical...but a Slade whooping is completely within my power! Because you should be. Thanks!
fallendreamz: Epilogue.
superman35405: LOL I can picture that...Thanks! Oh, and thank you for reviewing The Raven and Robin Files...it's kinda cheesy I know, but I appreciated your comments!
Raven of the Night676: Hmmm...interesting. I haven't noticed that many including him. Gotta watch those spwlling mistakes...You'll find out in the epilogue.
Asilla: LOL ok Yoda...he's my little buddy by the way. Have you seen Revenge of the Sith? Ok, back to the subject. LOL very bad. LOL yeah I hear you there, it's kinda nice to have a name that is neutral. Perhaps.
thechampion: Thanks, sorry for the long wait.
jambey: LOL yes, yes, you're very smart. -pats on head and gives a digital cookie- Yeah, that was the idea of bringing him back...well technically he was never gone. Hmm...I don't think you'll be disappointed there. A tickling machine? SWEET! I need one of those for my babysitting jobs... I think you'll be using it on me very soon though...
CloudsHalo: Now I feel really bad. Bad llama! Well, I'm sorry if you don't like the fact that Mina has powers, if you would give me a second Batman's return would be explained, and then you would no longer be confused. Now I'm serious this time, you will find out about Cyborg in the epilogue, which will most likely be extremely long. Thanks.
Teen Titans Fanatic: Thanks!
Rebel-Aquarias: LOL yes, ominous. Hmm...
Mystyre: LOL I had a feeling you would be the most enthusiastic about that plot twist. So do I...break out the rootbeer! Yeah, it does, cuz it sounded like a really cool idea for a story. I'm just praying that my fics will stay safe...I put whopping disclaimers on all of them, so I'm hoping that will be enough. Richard Grayson, there are too many hints for it to not be him (in the show I mean). Robin: Hey, Mystyre. Are you ever going to update your stories? Dusty: Patience is a virtue. Robin: -cough cough- Dusty: We'll see about that...
AnnFaithDarknessGoddess: Yeah, that was the reason for keeping Batman alive. I wanted to make sure they got some action, since the story has basically neglected them. Yes, definitely, which was Slade's plan of course. It's like in Star Wars Revenge of the Sith (have you seen it?) where Darth Sideous (sp) tells Anakin that he killed Padme. It was the last straw that completely turned him to the Dark Side. I know, I'm really sorry, but cliffhangers are sorta in my blood. How could I forget? -sigh- I only wish it could be so...Thanks!
Tinkerbell: LOL I see. I usually review as soon as I'm done, that way I don't forget, but it's no big. LOL glad you liked that. Thanks!
AriesFalcon: True. I suppose it takes a wound a little longer to heal if someone keeps cutting it back open. LOL "thing"...yeah she has one of those. Thanks, I wanted to give the whole Slade thing a bit of a twist. You should find out in the epilogue...he is quite nuts, and I wouldn't mind killing him either. Thanks! A lot of people said that there wasn't enough romance between Robin and Raven, so I'm glad you liked it how it was. Don't die, please don't die! Thanks so much, I flipped when I saw your review!
Ok, you will probably be really mad at me once this chapter is over, so feel free to ready your guns and pitchforks. ON WITH THE STORY!
Robin did his best to focus, to ignore the pain, to breathe...but it was no easy task. His head pounded from the numerous energy bursts Cyborg had gifted him with, and blood continued to seep right through Mina's bandage, dripping onto the dirt in a regular flow. There was nothing he could do about any of that now, and Raven was top priority.
As he smashed yet another robot, he caught sight of Beast Boy zipping around their heads in sparrow form...and something clicked into place. Gah! Why didn't he think of that before? "Beast Boy!"
The changeling heard his yell and quickly altered his flight pattern, landing beside his leader and morphing into his human form. "What?" he asked, ducking a laser blast as Robin smashed his bo-staff straight through an attacking robot. He turned to the shapeshifter, eyes wide and face pale, holding out what looked like a ring of keys. "Get to Raven! One of these unlocks the handcuffs." He shook off the possibility of that not being the case. "Hurry!" Robin yelled, dodging to the side and lashing out with the staff. It was the only attack he could still use; his arms and legs were too weak from loss of blood. You never would have thought it to look at him, though.
BB wasn't entirely sure of what he was supposed to do, but he quickly took the keys and flew off toward Raven as a sparrow, key ring held tightly in his feet. He dodged a few stray laser blasts and finally landed beside her, changing into a tiger and ripping her captors into scrap metal. The sudden lack of support sent Raven to her knees, weakened from hunger and weeks without sunlight. Beast Boy helped her to her feet, concern in his deep green eyes. "Are you ok?"
"Fine," she said, hands held awkwardly in front of her to reveal the delicate silver cuffs. "Did he get the keys?"
Beast Boy nodded, holding up the key ring, then frowned uncertainly. "Uh..."
Raven tried hard not to roll her eyes. "Look for a small, silver one, that looks like the handcuffs maybe?"
"Oh...right," mumbled Beast Boy, blushing slightly as he searched through the keys. Then the frown came back. "Uh-oh."
"What?" snapped Raven, eyes searching through the army of robots for a glimpse of spiky black hair.
"There's, like, ten little silver ones! All the same!" he exclaimed, shaking the key ring in her face in panic. "Now what do we do?"
"How about we start trying the keys instead of wasting time yelling?" Raven's frustration was soon forgotten as a cry rang out across the battling hoards of robots...her breath caught in her chest. Robin.
Robin felt the wind from the blow ruffle his hair as he ducked. Too close. If Raven wasn't freed soon, he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold up.
Boy Wonder gasped as two robots jumped him before he could right himself, pinning his arms and legs to his body. He struggled, pain searing in his arm and pounding in his head, muscles screaming in protest...a third robot joined the fight, then a fourth. He cried out as one grabbed his wrist and twisted it, making him drop his bo-staff to the ground with a dull thump. The robot seemed to smirk at him before kicking his fallen weapon well away from reach.
With a growl of fury, Robin jerked a leg free and brought it smashing into the robot's metal face. Sparks flew from the headless device as it fell to the ground, leaving Robin slightly hopeful...A bright red laser beam collided with his chest, sending pain shooting through his body and sucking what strength remained out of him. His resistance was weak and futile as the Slade-bots carried him away from the fray and toward the last person he wanted to see at this moment, or any other for that matter.
"It's a shame, Robin. Such a shame..." Slade snapped his fingers, and the robots released him, marching back towards the battle, towards Raven. Robin silently prayed that Beast Boy had somehow managed to free her.
"I had very high hopes for you, Robin. You have so much potential...there is no limit to what you could accomplish, what you could become. What a shame that you have chosen to throw it all away, and for what?" Robin managed to struggle to his feet, the afteraffects of the laser blast making his legs shake beneath him. His eyes darted to the left of Slade, and found what he was looking for: a dark figure lying face down in the dirt. Instant fear choked him, but he desperately fought it back. There was no blood...he was just knocked out. Just unconscious.
Slade took a few slow, careful steps toward him, gray eye boring into him and making him feel small and weak as it always did. He struggled to hold on to that feeling of seeing Bruce again for the first time in what felt like an eternity, of knowing that he still had friends that cared for him and were willing to fight for him, that someone loved him with all their heart. But he could feel it creeping back...that horrible gray...
"You think they care about you? You think that once I am dead you can go back to your precious tower and everything will be fairy-tale perfect? Think again. They respect you out of fear, Robin. Fear of what you could become, and deep inside they know they need you. They keep you around because, without you, they are nothing. They're using you, Robin."
"No." His voice was weak, lacking conviction. Slade had a way of getting under his skin and inside his mind almost without him knowing it. Robin knew he was losing again as that terrible feeling of hopelessness threatened to drag him back under, just when he had finally managed to get his head above water again.
"And of course there is Raven. She claims to love you unconditionally, swears to stay by your side always, showers you with tender words and sweet kisses. But answer me this, Robin. How long will that last?"
Robin blinked in shock as though someone had just swung a weight in his face. He had never thought much about the future. It was hard to contemplate tomorrow when today was such hell. Would Raven be with him in a year? Five years? Ten? Would they get married? Have children? Grow old together? Would they grow old at all?
Slade narrowed his eye knowingly. "I thought so. Well, let me answer that question for you, judging from...experience. It won't. Soon enough, your nature will begin to frustrate her, even frighten her to some degree. She will grow tired of you, and that young foolish love she swore would ast forever will shrivel up and die before your very eyes. Raven will leave, and you will be alone with nothing to shield you from the truth." There was something in Slade's voice...it was not indifferent and condescending as usual. There was pain, regret, loneliness, bitter hate...rage. His eye burned with a cold fire as he stared down at Robin, chest heaving and air whistling through the slits in his mask.
His words were like poison, slinking and spreading through Robin until it filled his entire body with a sickness that would not be easily shaken. He forgot everything, everything but those damning words, like a thousand needles in his heart resisting every attempt at removal. His eyes were wide, his shoulders slumped as though weighed down with an impossibly heavy burden as Slade drew nearer, his eye never leaving Robin's face. Those words would leave their taint long after they faded into silence. Like Frodo on Weathertop.
Slade sighed quietly, and the strange show of emotion was gone, once again replaced with cold indifference. "So you see, Robin, you have nothing to live for. I won't regret killing you too terribly much. You made an oath, and now you will pay the price of breaking it." His hand darted forward as he charged, hitting into Robin before he could even think about moving. The pair tumbled backwards, Slade pinning Robin to the ground beneath his crushing weight and bringing the knife swinging down towards his chest. Robin's eyes went wide behind the mask as he caught Slade's hand in both of his, arms shaking with effort and blood flow quickening. He stared up at Slade with nothing short of horror as the blade inched ever closer to his skin, his hands slick with the sweat pouring from his tired body.
Slade regarded him coldly, putting a little more force behind the blade. "The push of a button, the pull of a trigger, the thrust of a knife...three ways to stop that defiant heart of yours. But I'm sure one will suffice." The knife point pricked his skin, sending waves of pain and fear through him as his arms grew weaker by the second. "Try not to die too quickly." Slade pushed with all his strength, the knife penetrated deeper, Robin braced himself for death...
With a grunt of surprise, Slade was blasted off him, the knife tearing through the thin layer of skin as it ripped free. Robin bit back a scream, hand flying to his chest to examine the wound. Small, not very deep...and certainly not fatal.
"Bastard!" Robin struggled to his feet, blood rushing to his head as he blinked at the sight before his eyes. Raven hovered a good five feet off the ground, her cloak and hair whipping around her as though caught in a gale, her eyes flickering from white to red and back again. Bolts of black lightning emenated from her person, and everything from chunks of wood to fire hydrants got up and flew at her command. It took Slade a good while to even realize what hit him.
The masked villain stumbled to his feet, only to be met with a large bolt of black energy straight to his chest, sending him flying backwards with a grunt of pain. "You Sick Twisted Bastard!" Raven screamed, her voice strangely deep and gravelly as she continued to bring Hell down on Slade's head.
"Raven!" Robin stumbled slightly as the ground began to shake and quiver, the ominous rumble of cracking pavement grating in his ears. He had to stop her before...the red of her eyes and the hatred in her voice made him afraid for her. "Raven!" he yelled as loud as he could, but his voice was small even in his own ears as the ground pitched beneath him and the struggle for consciousness grew harder by the minute.
The hurricane of attacks had caught Slade completely off guard. How did the witch get out of those handcuffs? Robin must have stolen the keys...Slade mentally congratulated him. It was no easy task to take something from his person without his knowledge. So the boy did learn something...Slade's hand dived for his belt and pulled out the first thing his fingers met: smoke bombs. He threw a few to the ground and one went sailing in Raven's direction, immediately engulfing them in thick black smoke. Good. A chance to catch his breath.
Raven coughed as the greasy smoke filled her lungs, and she growled in frustration at this obstacle. Beating the crud out of Slade felt way too good to end now...wait. Hurting someone felt good? Her anger began to ebb as she rose a few feet to escape the suffocating cloud and search for Slade...no, Robin. This was about saving Robin, not making Slade pay. Raven's eyes returned to their usual purple as she scanned the ground for a glimpse of spiky hair...Nothing.
Oh no.
Batman groaned, his head pounding as though someone was using it as a basketball. It took him a few minutes to remember where he was and who had been taking potshots at his head, but soon enough it came flooding back. He sat up unsteadily, a gloved hand feeling the back of his head gingerly. Ow...goose egg didn't even begin to describe this one. Ignoring the pain, he struggled to his feet and searched franticly for Slade, something very close to panic nearly choking him. "Oh please no. Please don't let it be too late..."
The cloud of smoke caught his attention immediately, and he headed for it as fast as his spinning head would allow. Smoke was no obstacle...he didn't need to see in order to fight.
Weak coughing sounded off to his right...Robin. He inched towards the noise until he could make out the faint outline of his son. Relieved and worried at the same time, Batman reached out and grabbed him, pulling him backwards and away from the smoke. The boy yelped in shock and struggled weakly, but Bruce quickly put a hand over his mouth to silence any further noise. "Sh, Dick, it's me."
Robin instantly relaxed in his hands, allowing himself to be guided out of the smothering mass and, hopefully, away from Slade.
The rays of the setting sun lit the "empty" lot with an orange hue as Batman looked Robin over carefully, taking in the chest and arm wounds. He frowned deeply before carefully examining them, ignoring Robin's determined protests that he was fine and Raven was the one to be worried about. Dick had argued the same point with injuries far worse than this one, so Batman decided it was best to be sure. "The chest wound isn't too bad, but...how long have you had the one on your arm?"
Robin opened his mouth to respond, but Batman was no longer listening, his gaze fixed on a point over the boy's shoulder. His mouth grew dry as dust, a high-pitched whine droning in his ear as Slade took aim and fired, the gun leveled at Robin's back. "MOVE!" he yelled, as much to himself as to Robin as he dove for the ground, pulling the boy down with him and holding him protectively, praying that it would be enough...
Undaunted by the wasted bullet, Slade took aim once more, not really caring if he hit Batman or Robin. They had both vexed him for far too long.
Slade's eye widened as an unmistakable green tiger slashed a massive paw across his hand, knocking the gun well out of his reach and slicing right through his glove with its razor sharp claws. "You annoying little-"
A green disk of energy collided with his chest, sending an electric jolt of pain through his body as he hit the ground harshly. By the time he had managed to right himself, all chances of victory were extinguished.
Raven, Beast Boy, Starfire, the girl, Batman, and Robin, discreetly supported by the Dark Knight, were gathered in a circle around him, his droids were all destroyed, and any possible assistance was too far away to be of any use. Slade groaned quietly, slightly bent over in pain. Damn.
"It's...over, Slade," Robin gasped, a hint of disbelief escaping his once-confidant voice.
"Wrong again, Robin," hissed Slade, concealing his rage with long-practiced patience. His gloved hand closed around the smoke disk, while his eye glared unblinkingly at Robin, enjoying the fear he could feel on him. "See you in your dreams." Slade threw the small device to the ground, melting away into the smoke and oncoming darkness of night.
Starfire and Beast Boy flew off in pursuit, but Robin already knew that they would find nothing. Just like before...just like always. "He...he got away..."
Blood loss and pain finally got through to his brain, and darkness closed over his head as he fell back into a pair of strong and comforting arms.
Good? Bad? Indifferent? Well, let me know...I'm hoping you liked it. I'll get to work on the epilogue. Laters, people! -Dusty