NOTE- For Teen Titan purists (espescially the comic book lovers), I have had to skew the history of some of Slade's background, ever so slighty, to make this story work. It ties in to the final chapter, which is approximately 3 or 4 chapters from here. Remember, it's just fiction anyway.
Disclaimer-Do not own any rights to characters.
CHAPTER NINE-Soul Searching For Him
The following weeks would find Raven spending most of her free time at Ben's place. They found the greatest pleasure just hanging around enjoying each other's company. Ben would notice Raven enjoyed walking around the loft gazing and running her hands over the various treasures he had accumulated over the years. She felt like she had found the one thing that had always eluded her, a home. She usually would stop to gaze at one particular glass sculpture displayed in the corner of the massive room.
"If you like that, it is yours." Ben said.
"I love it, but I do not want it." She hesitated. "It just belongs here, where it is appreciated."
"Rae." He said slightly shaking his head. "All of these things...that's just what they are...just things. I have no real sentimental attachment to them."
"You have got to be kidding?" Her voice, one of astonishment. "You mean there is nothing in here you cherish?"
Raven moved back towards the couch, took a leap, and landed on the thick cushions. In the process, her feet knocked over some books and various decorative items that were sitting on the coffee table. "Oops."
Ben reached down, began to put each item back into place. "You know, sometimes you can be such a child."
"You like it." Raven replied, laying on her side with her head propped up by her hand. Again, Ben shook his head and just let out a deep breath.
"You still didn't answer my question, if there was a fire and you only had time to save one thing in this entire place. What would it be?"
"Do you really want to know?" He was not looking at Raven, but staring straight ahead. There no playful tone left in his voice. It was not threatening, just serious.
"Sure." Now her voice was a little uneasy.
He got up slowly from the couch and walked halfway across the room, stopping at the huge fireplace mantle. He then opened a small silver box, removed something, carefully closing the lid. As he approached the sofa, Raven sat up. He handed her a simple gold chain, with a very plain, but obviously well worn locket.
"This, Rae...this I would always try to save."
Raven held it in her hands and for several seconds did not move. She knew that this was an item of minimal expense, compared to everything else displayed about the room. So this was emotional treasure, and she became a little uncomfortable.
"You may open it." He sat in the chair beside the couch, his voice seemed somewhat detached.
Raven pushed the clasp on the side of the locket and stared at a picture of a small girl. Probably eight or nine years old. It was obviously a school picture. She had wild shoulder length bond hair and a smile that could light up a room. On the inside was an engraving, very plain in capital lettes...ROSE.
She looked up briefly at Ben,who was still staring straight ahead.
"She...She is very pretty." Raven cleared her throat as she spoke. "Your niece, perhaps?"
"She is my daughter Rae."
"I KNEW IT!" Her voice gasping for air. "I KNEW it was too good..."
"You knew what?"
"I knew you were married, I just didn't want to..."
"I am NOT married." He said, finally turning to face her. "At least not anymore."
"Oh, sorry." Raven was somewhat apologetic.
"Besides, this child is the product of an affair I had long after my marriage ended."
"I KNEW IT!" Again Raven was ranting. "I knew it was going too good, somebody like you had to have a girlfriend"
"You know Rae, you really should get some help with this doom and gloom complex you have going for you. Other than you, I do NOT have a girlfriend." He reached down and took the locket from her hand. "And to be quite honest with you, I wished I hadn't even mentioned this. I thought you were little more mature."
"Are YOU, Calling ME, immature?" Raven was standing now.
"You really have a problem with this, don't you?" Ben was inquisitive. "Or are you one of those that thinks nothing ever goes my way because I am jinxed or cursed or whatever. When the truth is that you are really to scared to confront and defeat your problems?" Now his voice was a little menacing. "I need to know this Rae...I need to know how you can or cannot handle things, especially things about me that you can not even now begin to comprehend!"
"KISS...MY...ASS!" She managed to speak though her eyes were swelling with tears.
"No, I did that last night...remember?" Ben's voice was again calm, but very sarcastic. "And while I briefly enjoyed it then, I am really not in the mood right now."
Without thinking, Raven moved forward two steps and slapped his face with her right hand...so hard, it momentarily caused her hand to go numb. Ben's head just moved slightly. It did not even phase him.
Raven fled, in tears, through the front door.
Later that night, Ben was lying in bed staring up the ceiling. He couldn't get to sleep. He kept thinking how this huge loft, filled with some many things, could feel so empty, without her. He began to miss the little things. That perfume that she wore, the playful way she bounced around. She brought life to this place, she brought life back to him. Now...she was gone.
Raven was in her bed lying on her side. Her face staring through the dark at a spot on the wall that was empty. The pillow was moist from the tears that slowly leaked out. She knew in her heart that he was probably right. Things just never seemed to go her way. She also knew that she always gave up too easily. Not this time, reaching towards her nightstand, she grabbed her cell phone.
Ben did not move his body, but just stretched his arm out into the darkness when the phone rang. Quickly glancing at the incoming number on the display, he flipped the phone on.
"Hey." His voice calm.
"Hey." She was slightly sobbing.
"Stop crying Rae."
"I'm not crying."
"You are not a good liar, my dear."
Both parties were silent for a short period. Even thought they were miles apart, both were lying flat on the backs, in the middle of their beds, holding the phone with the right hand and left hand placed behind the head. Almost like twins in a parallel universe.
"Ben, can we pretend tonight did not happen?" "Please tell me I can wake up tomorrow and everything will be Ok." There was a short period of silence.
"If there is anything i know," He began. "Is that you can never erase the past. But you can learn from it. You can deal with it. You can overcome it. Or you can let it slowly destroy you. These are truths, that I know well."
"But...but I just want...I need..." She could not get the words out.
"I can not predict if any of us will wake up in the morning Rae. That is something out of our control. The only truth I know. Is that from now until the very existance of time...I will love you."
Again, no response, just the faint sound of sobbing.
"Rae, will you please stop crying?"
"I'm not crying."
Ben smiled slightly in the dark and thought. That's my Rae. Defiant to the end.
After a few minutes, Raven broke the silence.'
"Tell me about Rose."
"There's not much to tell, really. I haven't seen her in a long time."
"What do you mean...you are her father...you're not allowed to see your daughter?" Raven sounded concerned.
"As I told you before, anything involving me tends to get complicated."
"Don't you want to see her?" Asked Raven.
"YES I want to see her! But I could never make you understand that this is the best for her. Her mother is married now, to an electrical engineer. They have a nice house in the suburbs, good schools, she has a chance to be normal. The last thing she needs, is me showing up at the front door, with a big smile and saying come and hug your real daddy, the international assassin."
"THE WHAT!" Raven said as she sat straight up in the bed.
Ben knew he only had a split second to respond to his remark. His mind starting working in overtime. You idiot. What did that sound like to her. Ok, think, think quick.
"You know what I meant, military operations and stuff." He said as he strained to detect if her reply sounded like she might believe this.
"Oh, I see." She said. "But don't you wonder what she is like?"
"I get regular updates from her mother actually." He said without reverence. "It's part of the deal, I stay away in exchange for being informed. It seems that she is somewhat of a tomboy. Very athletic. She is currently playing Little League Baseball, and is the only girl on her team. Not only that, she is the best player."
"I think I would really like to meet her." Raven said with a hint of hope in her voice. "But, right now I would settle for seeing you tomorrow night...maybe?"
"I will call you the day after, I actually have some business planned for tomorrow night." Ben sounded apologetic.
"I...I see." Replied Raven. "Is she pretty?"
"Your insecurities are starting to get old Rae." "Good night."
"I was just joking." Her reply sounded believable to him. But deep down she was still thinking it might be true. "Good night."
"Oh, Rae?
"Yea."
"Just one more thing." "You don't happen to have a twin sister, do you?"
"Uh...no." She replied.
"Ok...sorry, good night"
Raven closed the flip phone and laid it on the nightstand. What was that all about?
The following evening found all of the Titans sitting at the kitchen counter gorging themselves on pizza. Raven tried to act like part of the team, but her mind was far away.
"It's nice to have everybody here." Robin said. "For a change." The remark, directed toward Raven, did not register a reponse. As she was not even listening. They all were startled when the tower's central computer alarm began to blare out. Robin jumped up, glanced at the main screen.
"Intruder...the museum." Titans GO!"
At the museum , the Titans instantly transformed into the well oiled crime fighting machine that they had always been. Robin entered the building while the others guarded the exits. I didn't take long before Robin spotted the target.
"Slade!"
"The boy wonder." Came a most familiar voice from the other end of the room. "This is truely, shall we say, an unexpected pleasure. And you know how I hate to mix business with pleasure, but I think I will make an exception...for you.
The two adversaries attacked each other. The fighting was fierce, but Slade was too much for Robin. Eventually sending him rolling down the steps of the entrance to the building. At this point the other Titans joined the fray.
"As usual, Robin, you have brought your little army to save your ass." Slade then began to dodge the bolts from Starfire, the cannon from Cyborg, and whatever animal form Baest Boy decided to change into. For Slade this was all too familiar, and boring. But the fun of fighting Robin made it somehow worth it. There was a deep hatred of Robin.
The fighting was intense, at times. Slade had just finished hitting Robin with an uppecut, which sent the youngster flying halfway up the steps at the museum's entrance, when Beast Boy in the shape of a rhino plowed into his back, knocking him off his feet. Slade flew uncontrolaby backwards, slamming into Raven, who happened to be standing at the bottom of the steps. They both stood up , Raven was a little groggy. Slade instinctively grabbed her from behind, intending to use her as a human shield from possible starbolt attacks. He had Raven in almost a full nelson headlock. As he lifted her higher with her back to him, she began kicking and screaming. "Let me go!"
It was at this point, when he was hit.
It was not a blast from Starfire, nor a punch from Cyborg, not even a kick from Robin. Slade was hit by a fragrance. A fragrance that he was all too familiar with. All of the suspicions, the coincidences, the denials finally hit home. The smoking gun did not contain the smell of sulfer, but of prefume. Slade was was almost paralyzed.
In one motion he grabbed Raven's cape at the base of her neck with his left hand, while still holding her secure with his right. He then ripped the cape and hood off of her and spun her around to face him. The Titan sorceress was so stunned by this act that she offered no resistance.. His stare into her eyes only lasted a few seconds, but it seemed like time stood still, especially for Slade. While Raven wasn't sure what she was looking at, Slade at this point knew exactly who he was looking at. With both arms confined Raven came to her senses and kicked him with both feet braking his grip on her. Slade turned to look at her one more time, then purely on instinct, he did a backflip narrowly avoiding a bolt from Starfire. Then with one leap, he bounded over a brick wall and was gone.
Dude...that was weird." Beast Boy was the first to speak.
"What a pervert. I Think he was trying to rip off your clothes!" Cyborg said.
"Raven! Are you all right?" Robin said as he rushed over toward her.
"Yes...I...I am fine." Raven replied while bending down retrieving her cape.
"Let's go home." Robin's words were welcome by all.
Raven threw her cape and hood over her shoulder and proceeded to head back to the Tower. Suddenly, she looked slightly behind her to see Starfire staring at her. The expression on Starfire's face sent chills down her spine. It was a combination of extreme shock and disgust. "What?" Raven made a feeble attempt to communicate. Starfire said nothing, flying past her to catch up with the others.
"WHAT! " Raven screamed at Starfire, after catching up to her. Starfire looked ahead and said nothing.
Slade stumbled into his loft. Almost exhausted from non stop running. He was ripping off his costume and thinking at the same time.
You FOOL! You pathetic, weak FOOL! Slade berated himself. His heart had probably known the truth about her for weeks. But his mind and soul had denied it for so long. No matter how many clues he had tried to dismiss as pure coincidence. Reality, had finally arrived.
The steam from the shower began to fog up the bathroom. Slade had both hands braced against the shower wall as the water ran down his head into the drain. He remained in this position for some time. What the hell do I do now?
