Chapter 16: Not just talk
(One Month Later at a Night Club)
Raven entered forcefully as Jinx dragged her in. She had found Raven a week ago in Steel City and invited her to stay in a secret area in Jump City where a lot of criminals lived the high life in an area so corrupt that not even the Teen Titans could clean it out. High classed criminals including crooked politicians and cops who did everything possible to protect the place in fear of being linked to it if the fully law abiding citizens and heroes of Jump City or otherwise got in. Slade owned three mansions within the area and Jinx had one, which was occupied by her and the rest of the HIVE team. They mostly had it because of the cash and favours that they were able to pump out of Slade. Jinx hated him, but she loved the mansion.
"Remember that this club doesn't care that you're Slade's daughter," Jinx reminded her, "well, not in the negative way," she added.
"Well hello there," a voice said suddenly and Raven growled, "hey dearie I'm not my sister," she told Raven, "I have nothing bad or hateful to say to you," she said.
"What do you want Blackfire?" Raven hissed.
"A dance partner!" Blackfire declared and grabbed Raven's hand, "I'll give you back your girl Jinx, don't worry," she added.
"You BETTER mean girl in a friendship term," Jinx threatened.
"Would I mean it any other way?" Blackfire asked with feigned innocence, "let's go!" she shouted and tugged Raven who was now causing several items to explode around the club.
"It's okay ladies and gentlemen we just have Slade's special girl with us," the bartender announced simply as if it were no big deal that some of the most expensive things were exploding in the club, "just stay clear and keep dancing.
Soon Raven was in the middle of a dancing crowd with Blackfire and soon started to jump up and down and sing out lines of the songs with the rest of the crowd. For the first time in her life she was having fun.
(Two days Later at a shopping mall in a more isolated part of Jump City)
Raven entered the mall closely followed by Jinx and the rest of the HIVE. Ahead of her were Slade and his fiancé Terra. Raven wanted to order the clothes her father wanted her to get over the phone. But her father refused. The Teen Titans were out fighting Plasmus and Cinderblock who had 'miraculously' gotten special armours that deflected all the Titans attacks back at them. So they had their hands full. In Steel City a 'mysterious' barrier had appeared and no one; not even Titans East, could get out of Steel City. It was all to make it a perfect day to shop. A perfect day to shop while people gave you looks of doubt and fear. Raven had started to get used to it. She didn't LIKE it but it was less emotionally pressing now.
First they entered a French Clothing Store with dazzling gown designs. Raven made it immediately clear that she wasn't wearing baby blue, yellow, polka dots or pink. Her father got her a purple, red, black and Baby Blue coloured dresses. Then they went to more stores and were greeted fearfully.
On their final stop they came to a perfume store. Raven resented how Terra's eyes lit up at the most expensive items. She wondered if Terra only wanted her Father for his money.
"She's just excited," Slade whispered to Raven as if he read her mind, "she never had this kind of cash to spend," he reminded her.
"Don't you mean YOUR cash?" Raven countered.
"It's also her money now," Slade told Raven, "yours as well like always," he added.
"I don't trust her," Raven said frankly.
"Well I do," Slade said pointedly.
"She's my age," Raven said.
"I'm not excited about that fact either," Slade whispered, "robbing the cradle has never been a hobby of mine."
"You obviously dropped in on the hobby," Raven said coldly.
"Pick a perfume," Slade said testily, "nothing more," he added a bit loudly before Raven could speak.
Several rows of perfume exploded.
"It will be paid for," Slade said as persons shrieked in panic, "control yourself," he hissed at Raven.
"I'm trying," Raven told him.
"Succeed," Slade ordered and walked off to the cologne section.
"I've smelt perfumes here that you'll die for," Jinx said suddenly and pulled Raven off with her, "it's so nice to have a girl around instead of those male bums from HIVE for company," she said happily.
"Lucky me," Raven said in sarcastic monotone.
(Following Day at 2 pm at a cottage)
"You still haven't forgiven me," Slade said as Raven started to walk off.
"No father, I haven't," Raven said formally, "you caused me to lose my only friends."
"Are you sure?" Slade asked her, "Aqualad barely knows you but he was willing to put the fact that I'm your father aside," he pointed out, "your so called friends couldn't," he reminded her.
"Don't expect to regularly get me to spend time with you father," Raven said frankly.
"Yes," Slade said slowly, "you'd rather spend it by yourself in some corner shack," he said with fake optimism, "or better yet walk around by yourself in the open and see how the people who once worshipped your heroism as a Titan throw insults and rocks at you," he said with sarcasm, "who knows, they may actually try to give you a Salem witch trial next."
"Is that supposed to be funny?" Raven asked coldly.
"It's supposed to make you see reality," Slade responded, "a hero always falls because he can't be a hero forever," he told her, "and when he slips up people turn on him," he said, "look at you," he stated and Raven looked away.
"I'm going with Blackfire to visit other planets," Raven revealed to Slade, "I'm going to be gone a while," she added.
"Well it's better than hanging around here (as in on Earth)," Slade said testily as he recalled the guy who had called Raven a traitorous whore last night and he (the guy) was just one of many who dared to insult Raven even with his (Slade's) nearby presence, "I wish you all the best," he told her kindly.
"Thank You," Raven responded, "but why did you do it?" she asked and Slade knew what she meant.
"I had to teach Robin a lesson," Slade said seriously, "I'm not fully sorry about it," he added.
"But what could've happened to drive you to do something as extreme as rape?" Raven persisted, "did he say something to…."
"Raven!" Slade interrupted, "it happened and I'm not going to retell the details," he said firmly, "what he said has nothing to….just drop it!"
Raven watched her now upset father with suspicion. What could've happened that night that her father was so against talking about?
But he DID rape Robin. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I mean; rape isn't exactly a conversation piece. I should be happy that my father doesn't want to talk about it instead of suspicious. (Raven's thoughts)
End Chapter 16