Author's note- Only two more chapters, and this thing is done.
Disclaimer- Once again, I claim no rights to any Teen Titan characters.
"What have I become…My sweetest friend…Everyone I know…Goes away in the end."
"Hurt" By Nine Inch Nails (and Johnny Cash).
CHAPTER THIRTEEN- Showdown
Starfire raced down the steps from Slade's loft. Turned the corner and sat down on a bench, just under a streetlight. Picking up an old newspaper, she began to furiously fan her face. Even though it was a crisp 53 degrees outside , her body was still on fire. She struggled to come to terms with what had just transpired. As traumatic as the confrontation with Slade had been, she was more confused at her own actions and emotions. Thoughts flashed through her mind.
What was I thinking? How could he make me feel like that? He must have put a spell on me…yes that is it…some sort of an evil spell. Nobody has ever made me feel like that. It is wrong, she is my best friend. It is not my fault, it is his. I am the good girl. Plus, nothing happened. But…I wanted it to happen. What is wrong with me? It has to be his fault, not mine. Oh…but he is good…in an evil way of course. I guess now I know how Raven fell in love with him. Hmmm…I wonder…if they do not get back together?
Starfire abruptly slapped herself on the face. Bringing her to her senses. I must be losing my mind.
Things were quiet back at the Tower. Robin was the only Titan in the main room. He was watching TV when Starfire came home. She had actually done nothing wrong, but at the same time was consumed by guilt.
"Hey Star…what's up?"
"Nothing…nothing is up Robin, why would think something is up?" Her inner guilt was trying to come to the surface.
"It's just a figure of speech Starfire."
"Oh…yes…well I must be going to my room now." She tried to walk away.
"Starfire, are you alright…I mean you like you just ran a marathon?" Robin was now moving closer to her.
"Yes, that is it…I have been exercising. You know me, always trying to be in shape. Never know when I might have to hold…I mean…might run into Slade." Her face now contorted and red.
"Er…Ok, that must be how you lost your earring."
Starfire quickly felt her right ear, realizing one of her favorite jade earrings was indeed missing. Must have come loose when he was holding me on the couch, she thought to herself.
"Yes, all that good exercise, must have lost it then…well I really must be going." Starfire was running up the steps.
As Starfire walked down the hall, Raven came out of her own room and approached her.
"Where have you been?"
"Nowhere, just talking to Robin." Starfire said with a guilty look.
"Good." Raven responded. "Did you tell him?"
"There is nothing to tell. He does not own me, I didn't do anything. It was not my fault…I mean I could have…"
"What the Hell are you babbling about?" Raven grabbed Starfire by the shoulders and shook her. "Did you tell him about Slade and me or not?"
"Oh…that, no I have not said anything to him about that." Starfire was slightly relieved.
"Then I will." Raven replied.
"No!" Starfire exclaimed, and without realizing her own strength, picked Raven up and threw her back into the room. Raven bounced one time off of her bed, landing on the floor up against the wall.
"Oops." Starfire said with her hand over her mouth.
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!" Raven was seriously mad.
"Yes, I do believe so…but we do not need to tell Robin, right now. I am afraid he may not take it well."
"You really think so?" Raven was being as sarcastic as she could. "I would have never thought that telling him I was the boy toy for his life long obsession, would cause a PROBLEM!"
"You are angry?" Starfire asked.
"Starfire, you are seriously freaking me out…are you high or something?"
"Yes, I mean…" Starfire placed an open palm over her head as if to measure. "I am five feet, seven. Still higher than you by seven inches"
"You can't really be that stupid. Get out of my way." Raven began to move around her.
"Please friend Raven. Just listen to me, I can understand… but he will not."
"How could you possibly understand?" Raven asked.
"I do…trust me, I really… really understand." Starfire was biting her lip as she spoke. "Just a few days, Raven, think about it just a few days more. If you still feel the same, then, you can do whatever you want. I am begging you to wait."
Raven was silent for a moment, then walked over and laid on the bed. "It doesn't matter, I am leaving anyway. But if it means that much to you I will wait."
"Thank you…we will talk tomorrow? Starfire asked.
"Whatever."
Tomorrow came and went. Raven rarely leaving her room, speaking only briefly to Starfire, who would bring her food. The next day came and Robin was becoming more and more agitated. With Raven absent he addressed the Team in the control room.
"This has got too end." Robin stated. "If we are a team, then everyone has to act like it. We need to decide what we are going to do with Raven."
"She just needs more time." Starfire interjected. "I told you, she broke up with her boyfriend. Just give her a few days."
I don't know if we have a few days." Robin was calm, but firm. "We never know when an alarm will sound. We can't afford to be shorthanded." Robin looked at the ground. "We need to think about replacing Raven."
"You…you are not serious?" Starfire gasped.
"I am afraid I am…but I need everyone's opinion." Robin turned toward Cyborg.
"Man, I don't know. Raven is always doing this…but she comes through when we need her."
"Beast Boy ?" Robin asked.
"I don't know dude…I don't think she can be replaced. Sure has saved my butt a bunch."
"Robin, I know if you felt the same pain as she does now, Raven would not abandon you." Starfire put her hand on his shoulder as she spoke. "Let me try again, tomorrow, to talk to her."
Robin nodded in agreement.
The next day Starfire brought lunch up to Raven's room. When she saw Raven packing clothes into a large suitcase, she placed the tray on the bed.
"You are leaving?"
"Yes." Raven said unemotionally.
"Vacation?" Starfire asked.
"No Star, I am leaving the Titans. Look I have to leave for the airport in an hour, so I really need to finish."
"I see." Starfire backed up and walked into the hallway. Halfway down the hall, she began to run to her room. She went to her dresser, opened a small drawer on the side of a jewelry box, removed a small piece of paper with a cell phone number on it.
"She is leaving." Starfire was whispering into her phone.
"When?"
"An hour." Again speaking softly.
"You have honored your debt…I was already on my way."
"You can't! I mean come here. Everybody is still here." Her words fell on deaf ears as the line was already disconnected. Starfire slumped back onto the bed. She was now in torment. Does she warn Robin?…or Raven?…or neither. It didn't really matter, before she had time to make a decision, it was too late.
Down in the main room, Cyborg and Beast Boy were engrossed in a video game, while Robin was reading the newspaper. Soon a thunderous roar could be heard in the sky near the Tower. As the noise got louder, Cyborg went to the main window to see what it was.
"Choppers!" He said.
"Motorcycles can't be that loud." Beast Boy said.
"No you bird brain…helicopters. Big ones too. Must be troop transports."
By now all the boys were at the window. They watched two large helicopters sit down at the far end of the sidewalk that leads to the Tower.
"Army?" Robin asked while peering through binoculars.
"Don't think so. No markings." Cyborg was now looking through his own telescopic device. They watched further as several men got out dressed in military fatigues. They appeared to be stretching their legs and just milling about. Except one, who proceeded to make the long walk up the sidewalk toward the Tower.
"Strange." Robin said straining through the binoculars. "His uniform…no name tag…no rank…no insignia…no nothing."
"Uh oh." Cyborg said uneasily. "There is one patch…see it…on the upper left arm. A dagger, with a snake wrapped around it."
"No, I can't make it out. My lens aren't powerful enough. What about it?" Robin asked as the figure was still 300 yards away.
"Years ago, when I was visiting my brother while he was stationed at Bragg. We saw these dudes get off a plane…came right past us…single file. All of them wearing that same patch."
"So they are the good guys?" Robin said turning to look at Cyborg.
"Kinda." Cyborg said. "They are like super spooks, you know, top secret, not a lot of supervision."
"Kind of…good guys?" Robin look puzzled.
"Uh oh, it gets worse." Cyborg now had a bad look on his face. "Robin…how many one eyed people do you know?"
"What!" Robin strained through the lenses again as the figure got closer. "Beast Boy! I need you to get near the helicopters…see if you can find out anything. Cyborg, you come with me. We are going outside."
"Ok Robin, but you need to chill a little bit. You better make sure before your start Kung Fuing somebody." Robin was not listening.
Starfire had heard the roar of the helicopters and was watching the same scene form an upstairs window. Quickly, she ran to Raven's room and knocked on the door.
"Not now! I am busy." Raven responded from behind the door.
"Raven you need to come downstairs, now" Starfire's voice was emotional.
"I will when I am done."
Starfire now was banging on the door. The door flew open.
"What!" Raven was angry. Starfire was shaking, but looked straight into her eyes.
"He…is here."
Outside, Slade was now standing on the sidewalk in front of Robin and Cyborg. He looked first at Cyborg, than turned to Robin.
"I need to see Raven."
"And if you don't mind if I ask, who are you?" Robin was acting businesslike.
"Robin…after all these years…you don't recognize me…my feelings are hurt."
"SLADE!" Robin immediately landed a kick to his midsection. "That's not all I'm going to hurt.!"
The blow doubled Slade over and knocked him back a few steps. He recovered and stood up.
"Robin, I hope you don't treat all your guests this way." Slade said with a grin.
"Actually no, some get THIS!" Robin landed a roundhouse kick directly into Slade's face. Spinning him around, landing face down on the sidewalk. Seeing what was happening, some of the soldiers began to run up the hill from the helicopters. Still laying face down, Slade stuck his palm into the air, causing his troops to stop, and head back.
At this same instant, Starfire came flying out of the door.
"STOP IT!" She screamed, still in flight she grabbed Robin and Cyborg by their collars, flew them off the sidewalk fifty feet away and dumped them on the grass. Slade got up, dusted himself off. Looked at the two Titans that were being restrained, then turned toward the door, where Raven was now standing with arms folded tightly.
As he approached her, she continued to stare, right into his eye, her face void of any emotion.
"I am going away for awhile." Slade's voice had an eerie calmness to it. "It seems that do to recent world events, my services and expertise, are in demand. " He waited for a response, none came.
"Rae…I am trying. I want you to know that, whether you believe me or not. This is a first step. I want to do this…for you, and me…for us. Can you not say anything?" Again she remained steadfast and silent. "Perhaps, I should not have disturbed you…but I had to see you…one more time."
Slade took a breath and looked at the sky. "Maybe, given time, you will let me back in." Slowly he reached into his front pocket and removed a small item wrapped in felt. "I want you to keep this for me…where I am going…well let's just say I don't want to lose it." As he held it out to her, she still would not budge, her arms folded tightly. Slowly he took her hand, gently loosening her fingers and placed the pouch in her palm. He closed her fingers around it and held his hand on hers for a minute.
"I would hope that you do not leave this place. You are surrounded by people that truly care for you. This is something that is rare in this world. I should know. Hopefully I will return, if you are not here, I fear I may never see you again." He placed his hands around the top of her arms, leaned forward, kissing her lightly on the forehead.
Raven never took hers eyes off of him, but said nothing. When he turned to leave, she was still motionless, except for her bottom lip, which began to tremble. He did not look back as he walked down the sidewalk, it would not have mattered, Raven was already gone.
As Slade continued down the path, Robin started again.
"SLADE!" Robin was yelling at the top of his lungs. "This is not over!"
Slade walked past the remaining Titans, not even looking.
"SLADE! Come back here and fight!" Robin was losing his composure. Slade continued to walk away. Starfire tightened her grip on Robin.
Cyborg noticed an evil little smile on Robin's face.
"Uh…Robin, don't go where I think you are going." Cyborg said uncomfortably. It was too late.
"DEATHSTROKE!" Robin screamed.
Slade immediately stopped.
"DAMN…I told you not to go there!" Cyborg shook his head.
Slade turned off of the sidewalk and walked towards the them. Fearing the worst, Starfire loosened her grip on Robin, just a little. Slade and Robin were now inches apart, both glowing with hatred.
"I am going to find out what is going on here." Robin said, "And if you have done anything…and I mean ANYTHING to hurt my team…I will personally beat you to within an inch of your life! Is that clear!" Robin again screaming.
"Your threat is duly noted, boy blunder." Slade's voice now was calm, but extremely menacing. "Now, it is my turn. If while I am gone, YOU do anything to cause even the smallest tear to flow down Raven's face, then…"
Robin cut him off smugly, "Yea…Yea, we all know, then you will beat me within an inch of my life."
"No, my young friend…I will kill you." Slade looked at him for a second, then turned to walk away. He had only gone a few steps, when he stopped again.
"I almost forgot." Slade said as he reached into his other front pocket. "Starfire, I believe this belongs to you." He tossed her missing earring through the air and into her hands. Then turning and looking dead at Robin, he said, "I found it in my couch…it must have fallen out the other night." He then walked back to the waiting helicopter…a huge, evil smile on his face.
The expression on the faces of the remaining Titans, could not be described as a smile. Other than perhaps, Starfire, however her face was too red to notice.
The helicopters began to make a thunderous roar as they slowly took to the air. Slade was sitting inside his eye closed, already deep in thought. As they reached the height of the Tower, the soldier sitting beside him, tapped his shoulder and pointed out of the window. Slade turned to see the solitary figure of Raven, standing on the edge of the roof, looking in his direction. Even though they were some distance away, he could see her hair flowing straight back from the wind. Around her neck, a gold chain. Both hands clutching a locket next to her chest. As he strained to watch her, both aircraft banked 45 degrees, turned, and headed out over open water. Just like that, he was gone.
A short while later, Starfire emerged on the rooftop. Raven was resting on the top of a picnic table. Lying back on her elbows, her feet on the bench, her face to the sun. Starfire assumed the exact position beside her on the table. For several minutes, both girls said nothing, just enjoying the sun warming their faces.
"It would be nice, if just once in my life…I could get something right." Raven spoke , face to the sun, eyes closed.
"Well, you were right about one thing." Starfire said, her face to the sun, eyes closed. "He isthe damn handsome."
As Raven lay in the sun, an almost undetectable grin appeared on her face.
Author's note- Ok, troops, final chapter coming up. Hopefully before I go to the beach Labor Day.
