Hi guys (and gals), sorry it took so long to update. I had to rewrite some stuff and make some critical decisions…I think I know where I'm going now, tho.

RavenHairedInsanity: Thank you so much! That bites…I'm glad my school doesn't get into that whole scene…it takes so much pressure off of teenage life. LOL no, I like hearing from you! You're not rambling at all! Sweet, I'm glad it's less confusing. Happy (late) Valentines Day to you too!

Jambey: LOL yeah…I like those kinds of characters, so I figured I'd stick one in the plot line. LOL I am so ashamed…I honestly didn't realize that was a Slade quote…I knew it was familiar, just couldn't put my finger on it…I need to brush up on my Teen Titans episodes!

EvilYellowCrayon: Thanks, and here's the next chapter! I hope you and your minions enjoy!

Tinkerbellx2: LOL I think that is inevitable. Yeah, Venton is completely new…popped out of my demonized mind. …Hehehe…no pressure, eh? LOL yeah…that disturbs my soul. Thanks, I'm glad you like Mina!

Raven-Fieryblack: Nah it's cool. LOL yeah just a wee bit. Thanks!

Silverdrake: I'm glad you are enjoying it! Yes Robin was hit by a car and is in a coma. Raven isn't really being possessed; it was more of a visit, to get a point across. Yeah, Venton wants to possess Robin. Raven is fine other than being worried sick about Robin. Lol it's in Robin's mind, and yeah you basically got it there. The meetings with his former selves is his mind attempting to heal all the damage he has done to it over the years. LOL I'll do my best!

Lady briallen: Thanks!

Rinagurl13: Thanks! Hmmm…you will have to see…

AriesFyre: Thank you so much, I'm really glad you like it! Thanks for the review!

Majestical: Thanks!

Nevermoretheraven: LOL they aren't insane…well Raven isn't for sure.

Strixvaria: Thanks, I'm glad you like Venton.

Shadow Creature(or raeandrob4eva): Lol yeah you rock! It's awesome to always know that you will read and review! Don't worry, it's totally fine. I understand being busy…being busyis what kept me from updating this. Sounds great, can't wait till you update it! LOL nah it made sense…I think…Thanks so much! I'm really glad you like Venton…I wasn't sure if anyone would…Thanks for reading! You rock!

Twobirdslover: No, you're not stupid…it has been confusing everybody…hopefully it will start to make more sense.

Furubafun24: LOL you like my stories because they boggle your mind? No, it's not odd at all…Missy is just one of those characters…like the old lady who brought the Phantom to the opera…if you know the story. You just can't really be sure of them. That's good, but I still feel bad that it took me so long to update this…wounds is just getting to the exciting part, and it's hard to concentrate on this story. I do my best, hopefully.

The Wings of a Raven: Sweet! I'm really glad it's making sense now…I felt bad confusing you guys…Yay! You like it:0 I have fans? AWESOME! Lol, thanks, you rock!

Elf Fanatic Lark: LOL yup, unfortunately, he is. –Laughs evilly- You shall see! Thanks!

Hunter: Yeah, it's far from over.

Ok then, shut up and read.

-

Ok, now things were getting weird.

"Get out of my way, scum!"

Nameless squeezed his eyes shut, counted to three, then opened them again. Nope, he was still there.

"Are you brain dead or something? I said move."

"You…you can't be real…"

Slade's apprentice hit him with a spinning kick, smashing his metal boot against Nameless' skull. He gasped in shock, stumbling backward and blinking to clear his vision.

"That real enough for you?" A malicious grin spread across the boy's young face as his fist shot out, catching Nameless in the stomach.

Nameless bent over double, clutching his chest and gasping for air. "How-" A kick to his chest sent him tumbling to the ground.

"You're the one my father's been tracking. The vigilante." He spat out the word as though it left a bad taste in his mouth. "Imagine how pleased he'll be when I tell him how you died."

Nameless got to his feet, disgust and hatred flowing through him as he looked at his nightmare self. "Why? What did I ever do to you?"

The boy smirked. "Why? Because it's fun." Without warning, he struck again, a deadly karate chop aimed at the man's neck.

This time, Nameless was ready. He ducked at the last possible second, sending the boy stumbling forward as his target suddenly disappeared. "You don't belong with Slade."

"Slade is my father!" The boy struck again, anger making his movements jerky and not so precise. Once again, Nameless avoided his attack with ease.

"What about Bruce? What about everything he's done for you? Was it all for nothing?"

The boy paused for a moment, but his uncertainty vanished in the blink of an eye. "There is no Bruce. There is only Slade."

"Do you really believe that? Wow, he's really done his job with you. What about the Titans? What about your friends? What about…Raven?" Nameless felt a stab of pain in his heart as he uttered her name, but she might be the only way to get through to this kid…to himself.

The boy froze, his hand still raised to strike. For a brief moment, Nameless saw something flash across his face: longing, regret, guilt. But then it was gone, replaced by the cold, harsh look of Slade. "I don't need any friends!"

Nameless retreated in surprise, barely managing to block the frenzy of attacks his doppelganger dished out. This was beginning to try his patience, if he ever had any. If he had been willing to fight this shadow Robin, he would have been down for the count in a matter of seconds. Negotiating was just not his thing. "You're right. After what an idiot you've been, you probably don't have any friends!"

Slade's apprentice grinned in triumph. "Well, it looks like you're not as stupid as you look. This is who I am, I'm proud to call Slade my father, I'll work until my last breath if it means I can be half of what he is!"

Nameless stared up at the sky. Huge storm clouds were gathering, thunder rumbling and lightning flashing across the horizon. His body suddenly felt weak, fatigued…a sense of hopelessness plagued his mind. "What-"

He was cut off as apprentice Robin finally landed a blow. He raised his fist to strike again, but suddenly froze, his eyes fixed on Nameless. "How…how did you know about them? How did you know about Raven?"

The thunder died down as Nameless stared up at himself. "Trust me, Slade is not your friend. True, you have a hard timeseeing the line between right and wrong, and sometimes your obsessions carry you across that line, but that does NOT make you Slade. You are nothing like that hardened psychopath…not unless you choose to be."

The boy seemed to be struggling for a moment, and Nameless began to hope that he had gotten through to him. Unfortunately not.

Slade's apprentice whipped out his bo-staff and pressed it to the strange man's throat before he could even blink. "I'm tired of this little game. You don't know anything about me. This whole thing has just been a cowardly attempt to distract me. Well, guess what? It's not working." The cold metal pressed into his throat, making him gulp in discomfort.

"She loves you", he choked.

The boy who was once Robin paused, but his grip remained steady. "What was that, weakling?"

"Raven…heck, I don't know why…but she loves you. If only you knew how much you've hurt her." Nameless inched his hand towards the utility belt around his waist. If worst came to worst, he would just blind the kid a bit until he could regain his footing.

The boy looked uncertain for a moment, and he clung desperately to the last vestiges of Slade's control. "Liar! You…you're just trying to…you don't know anything about-"

"I know a lot more that you think, kid. She loves you! She'd die for you! Doesn't that mean anything? Are you willing to throw it all away for Slade?" He gently pushed the bo-staff away from his throat. "It's not too late. They still care about you, you can still go back. You control your future, Robin. You determine who you are. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. You are NOT Slade."

The bo-staff clattered to the ground. The ghost Robin was breathing hard, fists clenching and unclenching. "Raven…what have I done?" He stared at his gloved hands in horror.

"You can still go back, Robin. You can still make things right." The thunder quieted, the clouds faded away, allowing weak sunbeams to break through.

Robin looked at the strange man with mixed emotions. "I…"

"I know."

A weak smile crept across Robin's face. "So…she really…?"

Nameless laughed for the first time in a century. "Oh yeah."

Robin's smile got a little stronger. "Uh…thanks." He looked once more at his mysterious hero, then disappeared into the early morning shadows.

Nameless was a little less surprised this time, but the whole situation was still disturbing to him. It all seemed so real…he lifted a hand to his forehead and felt a trickle of blood on his fingers. That was no hallucination! That kid…he had been there, Nameless had the scars to prove it. "That doesn't prove anything", he muttered, brow furrowed. "You could have easily done that to yourself. A cut is not evidence. It's really not surprising that you've finally lost it. Actually, it's quite amazing that you lasted this long, all things considered." Nameless took a glance around him. "And now you're talking to yourself. This just keeps getting better and better." He felt light-headed, exhausted, weak…. He needed to get back to the tower….who knows? Maybe he'd be able to get some rest for once.

-

Venton watched it all, melding with the shadows all around him. If he had been in his human form, the grin playing about his lips would have been truly terrifying. He watched Robin with a hungry look in his eyes. This human was perfect, a better host than he could ever have hoped for. And he would be his, he would bring him to power. Venton would finally have what he wanted. He watched the doppelganger disappear into the early morning shadows. "Fight all you want, Robin. Every step you take brings you closer to me."

-

I'm sorry this was so short, but the chapter was just over… a couple pages early. I will try to update sooner next time! Review, please!

-Dusty