Flickering Shadows

By: Pakkrat

Chapter 1: He saved me?

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, and crap like that you heard many times before. I do take credit for Pakkrat, and Big Ben, all else, copyrighted to their creators. Yeah, Pakkrat looks like me but I don't do crime (cough) or get caught (cough) hm, dusty around here. I'm also not really so evil, just thought I'd make a cool villain only for the beginning.

Note: The first (I think) Slade/Raven romance, I know I am so going to get flamed, but damn this keeps gnawing at my neck like an elderly vampire… I just have to do it once! Well, Slade is awesome, and Raven's my fav hero, he's my fav villain, I guess that's all I need to say! Except, keep an open mind please. This is actually pretty good from what I read over, it should interest some people Read and Review please!

…Titans Tower…

She sits on the roof, she sits alone. She has a steaming cup of herbal tea, and she sits… alone. Raven often is alone; no one could understand the pain she feels. Oh sure, she could say it hurts being me, it hurts being so different that you're a freak. Still, that would be pity and poor… little Raven was above this. She sits her legs crossed; the pale creamy skin of her long legs protruding from the shadows of her cloak. The blue/purple cloak shifts, as she moves her arms over her black leotard to drink from her cup. The gloves she wears are black with red orbs, like the red orbs loosely circling her finely curved hips. Raven sips with puckered lips, sweetly and calmly she pants the steam from her mouth and lowers the glass. Raven's eyes of lavender peers the sky. She has her hood down allowing the shoulder long hair of the same magnificent purple to move in the cold breeze. Her forehead holds a chakra, or red soul stone for as most believe spiritual power and purity. Raven is spiritually powerful, but pure, not so much. Raven is hardly pure in the aspect of being half demon, half human, yet she wishes not to be denied for her blood. Raven sits alone, she ponders alone, she sighs… and hides her tears alone…

The alarm of her hood beeps, Raven closes her eyes to come to terms, and then sips her tea before putting on her hood and leaving to the main room. She enters the living room, the large black teenager, his body covered by silver and blue components dials across the screens. His deep voice murmurs, he's under some stress trying to find out information. His human and machine eyes peer to Raven, then smile. Like the brother she always wanted, Cyborg always knew in seeing Raven he brought some joy with the first smile. She gives a small grin, not a smile just a grin. She had trouble smiling; she hardly had reason to smile. Cyborg now moves on again to the data. Soon enough a voice, somehow annoying Raven comes asking, "What happened? I thought we were taking a break."

Raven narrows her eyes, her voice so cold and emotionless it gravely says "Loose out on your beauty sleep?" to this she hears a snort, "Good morning Beast Boy." Beast Boy is now viewed by Raven, he taps his large shoes as his arms are crossed. His purple and black jumpsuit fits to his sleek form. Beast Boy may seem twiggy compared to the larger titan Cyborg, yet he was not to be fooled as weak. Beast Boy was green skinned, having the one fang out from his lip he pouts at Raven angrily. Beast Boy also has two pointed ears, green eyes, and green spiked hair shortly trimmed, he was similar to a goblin some say though he dislikes the mention. The next voices is female, yawning, Starfire asks "What is the emergency friends? Did someone loose the remote once more?"

Starfire rubs from her lush green eyes sleep. She has an orange skin that causes most to look her oddly. Starfire is an alien, kind of naïve but powerful. She smiles her smile to Raven; her optimism is a genuine refreshing breeze in the chaos. She has long red hairs falling down her back and sides; Starfire also wears a purple midi and skirt along with boots of the same color. Unlike Raven's purple, this is lighter tones. Starfire floats over to Raven, asking how her friend was Raven shrugs and views the screen, the name "Pakkrat" comes across, a new villain? How this is going to pan out…

"I heard trouble!" the last voice was Robin, his leader tone breaks all else in the chaos. "Who is it? It isn't…"

"No." Cyborg sighs, "Slade's been gone for way too long. Besides, this guy goes by Pakkrat." Cyborg smirks, "Wonder why he goes by that name."

Robin did not care. Robin stood with his black cape with a golden underbelly brush with his strides. Raven looks t Robin a hides the slight blush on her cheeks, she feels closest to him as of late. With the recent fight with her father, Slade, the hell realm they both brought. Raven was glad she had him, Robin, as a friend. His black hair is spiked back different from Beast Boy; Robin's is much stronger looking. The red vest her wears along with green tights is buttoned with golden buttons. He wears a black strip mask to hide his eyes, and an identity lest he ruin the secret of his mentor and himself. Robin has black boots, with metal bracers. Robin looks at Raven and gives his cocky grin before turning to the others, "Okay, let's go and squash this pest!" the others cheer and file to the hangar.

…Jump City, the Bank…

Robin is on his R-Cycle driving full speed. Cyborg with Raven in the front, the back holds Starfire and Beast Boy they drive in the T-Car. Cyborg speaks over the speakers "I think the report said he was at the bank. They must be another robber or something Robin."

Robin nods, "Don't be getting any ideas, if he has a weird name probably has some crazy gimmick too."

Beast Boy grins, "Yeah, a packrat must be using like a trunk where he tosses irons and stuff out of!" he blinks, "No… actually not so funny. Control Freak is still a lamer villain than that."

Raven is not so moved, Starfire sighs "I only hope we may resolve this quickly. The cold air makes me uncomfortable."

Raven looks out the window, it is surprisingly cold. It wasn't a super-evil weather machine, just bad luck in the weather. The titans file out of the vehicles seeing someone walk out of the bank, "Hold it!"

The man they stopped was 6' tall, wearing a black trench coat that lay loosely at his sides while it was open. The shirt was a tight black T showing his physique, a semi-above-average build. The pants of black Levi jeans he slowly steps down to the street with his black steel-toed boots in stomp like steps. Pakkrat has black fish-net gloves with leather fingers and palms, the fingers ride to the first digit (love them!). His hair is brown, slit back he looks up with black shades hiding his eyes, but narrow devilish brows glare at his challengers. The titans share stares, he looks pretty bad but most people who wear the super-thug clothing are cowards. This one, was a little different, he wears it to challenge. The voice is close to Raven's, unattached and monotone it asks "Hold what?" he raises a chain leading into the bank, "This?"

Robin growls "Drop the chain!"

"But… you said hold it." Pakkrat grins, Raven picks up a vibe he was pleased with Robin's choice. "Drop the chain!" Pakkrat shrugs his shoulders, "Whatever… rat-breath." He drops the chain, "Which might I add," the brows glower in wicked pleasure, "You are now!"

There is a loud stomping; they look over the shoulder of Pakkrat as the chain is pulled into the bank. Pakkrat leaps off to the side as something huge barrels through the entranceway! This huge hairy figure, on all fours was a giant rat! Oh, this black furred mutant built like Quasimodo has its front curved more than its lower back making the huge hump. Its head is rat like, snarling with large razor teeth it seems to hiss at the titans, its red beady eyes leering at the bite-sized children. Pakkrat chuckles as he scales the chain, then sitting on the bags of money he took he tugs on the ropes to the mouth, a pair of tusks like elephants protrude the sides of the jaw. The rat beast runs off quickly, allowing its rider to toss some strange green vials behind him. The titans watch at these vials break and three rats awake from them. These ones grow to smaller dog sized beasts and snarl after the titans. Robin screams, "Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy, take these guys! Me and Raven will get the king rat!" Raven flies over Robin who has vaulted off a trashcan arms high for her to catch. The three other titans begin outing it with the rats.

Pakkrat smirks as he rides his pet, "Well Big Ben, I knew this would work well. To think I was actually worried…" he hears an explosion, turning he frowns to Robin and Raven chasing, "Aw… rats…" he reaches for something at his side but thinks, 'No… hold that for later.' "Hiya!" he thwacks the ropes and makes Ben reel in faster strides. They are passing the docks when Raven screams, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" the ground quakes and Pakkrat and Ben feel themselves tipping, Pakkrat screams as the rat slams side first on the pavement.

Raven lands with Robin, Robin smiles saying "Good, let's put this to rest!"

The two stroll over seeing the rat is unconscious the rider missing. "Up here…" they look to the top where stands Pakkrat smiling on them, "Have to admit, this was getting boring at first." He raises his right hand to a roof, fires a hook, and soon enough it catches so he is riding the pulley to that roof. Robin runs to the ladder while Raven was flying after. Raven lands to be face to face with Pakkrat. "Give it up, you're no super-villain! So you grew some kind of mutant rats," she grins, "It doesn't mean you can take on me."

"Oh, you'd be right normally… normally. I'm not some super-villain, I'm a guy. However I'm very intelligent, and skilled. That pet was only one toy I like to carry." He raises his right arm and squeezes his palm, two barrels rip from his sleeve revealing two barrels of a strange gun, "Here's my other toy!"

The gun fires each time Pakk pulls his hand into a fist. Raven disappears through the ground and Pakkrat sighs, "Predictable witch. I guess I really should not worry on electronic devices given your powers. They say, fight fire with fire." Raven raises out of the ground behind Pakkrat ready to throw a punch but she is flung backwards reeling in agony, her body sparking in red bolts, "Magic… with magic." Pakkrat shows his left hand brandishes a glove, in its palm four stones carved together in a circle, "Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire all in one hand. My hand." Pakkrat smirks to himself.

Raven glows her eyes at Pakkrat, chanting her words she tears off the gun and shatters it, the glove stays on. She curse mentally, magical items are often immune to magic and supernatural influence. Pakkrat raises his left hand again, "Let's see, last time we used fire/wind to make flame lightning… what about fire/earth?"

He uses the glove; firing out a ball of molten rock Raven raises her shields to have it shatter the stone. Pakkrat chuckles, "Most impressive! I do enjoy this. What about… oh, how about we use the wind/water one!" he uses this power to envelop Raven in an ice shell; she shakes as the cold begins to cause her concentration to twain. Soon enough her shield falls, he instantly strikes with several small stones of fire to break away the ice, "Well, how about pure fire?" he charges the red stone of flame and sprays out a stream of fire. Raven can not act as she had been thrown unconscious; luckily Robin rolls her out of danger to Pakkrat's anger. Robin shakes her, "Raven? Raven are you okay?"

Raven opens her eyes, "Yes… I'm fine." She is helped up and grins "Thanks for the save boy wonder."

Pakkrat taps his foot, "Um, hello? I'm still here!" he raises his hand and fires off some small stones of flame to the bow-staff twirls of Robin deflecting away the attacks. Raven channels her energy to call forth several metal rods lying on the building and tries to wrap Pakkrat. Pakkrat turns to them and uses the flames to melt the metal, and then he turns on Raven using water/ice/wind to shoot off small ice sickles at Raven who uses her own power to stop them. She throws them back, Pakkrat fires his stream of flame hoping that they melt and they did. Not letting off his attention, Robin leaps in with his rod in a strong swing to the legs, Pakkrat screams as he is swept right off and down. While there Robin tries to plunge the staff on his back to hold him but Pakkrat rolls away, turning up and in hate he showers Robin with rocks. Robin is struck by several over the head before twirling his staff to deflect them. Pakkrat scoots on his back, headed towards Big Ben he feels someone at his back, he frowns as he looks up to Raven who lands a kick to his face. Pakkrat feels her twisting her foot in his face so he screams "Benjamin!"

Raven hears rustling; she turns and pales more to the large teeth bearing on her. Robin leaps in and blocks the fangs with his staff, then pushes off to swat the nose. Robin vaults with his staff onto the snout of Benjamin then runs over the back to the base of the skull to have Benjamin now stomping trying to buck him off its back. Raven grins, "He sure is cocky."

She feels a grip over her neck, "Yeah, wonder where he gets it from!" she feels the vice grip, Pakkrat is strangling her, "I owe you witch! I owe you greatly!" he tosses her at the side, raising the glove he snarls, "This is a little something I like to call, Shadow Shot!" he fires all the stones, their colors mix to one beam of blackness that then hits Raven over the chest, she gasps a breath as the cold, icy feel of pure darkness hits her hard. Raven is thrown over the horizon into the sea as her hood falls off and next to Pakkrat. Pakkrat snickers as Robin was then tossed off and onto the roof. Pakkrat stammers slowly to Benjamin, holding his face in one hand and Raven's cape by the other he moans, "Witch had it coming…" he climbs onto Benjamin, and slowly pulls from his side a hunting rifle and tucks the cape at his back with the money. Loaded with special rounds he aims at the water, "Teach you to mess with me!" he waits patiently for her to rise… she doesn't or maybe the waters are too violent to tell. She wore a black close enough to the moving seas, "Humph…" he hears the T-Car coming, "Ah… go!" he thrashes the straps and rides off. The T-Car chases after until stopping for Robin, Robin is standing at the building wondering where Raven went he looks at Pakkrat and screams "He took Raven! After him!"

Raven watches them drive off, she is barely able to keep a float. She looks at them sheepishly, 'Come… back…' she whispers to her mind, 'I don't… want… to be… alone…' she coughs up the water as it hits her lips. She feels herself becoming even number, the cold shadow from Pakkrat plus the icy cold water was doing a number. If she did not drown, surely hypothermia would kill her. She closes her eyes, of all the ways to die this was sad. She fought many villains, and this one, this weird rat themed villain is the one to kill her. She then feels it, someone holds her, and swims her to the main land. She opens her eyes; it is like a thick fog so the shadow looms over her face. "Are you alive?" the voice is nearly inaudible but she makes it out, she replies, "Yes…" then coughs some water up, he chuckles, "Are you so sure?" Raven nods, getting more tired she feels the person grab her and take her somewhere else. She feels the strong broad shoulders, they belonged to a man, an older man. Definitely muscular she could tell by the simple force he used to heft her over his back. Raven feels tired; she rests as the figure takes her away.

…Down the road, some moments later…

The police have Pakkrat cuffed, the rat, Benjamin unconscious and being planned how to be moved. Robin snarls as he storms over with the cape, "Where is she?" the thing that angers him most, her cape had her tracker. Without it, she was impossible to find! "Tell me!" Robin grips Pakkrat who now smirks, "I don't know. I have a hunch but…"

Robin pulls his arm to swing, he knew how to deal with guys like this, "Tell me or I'll…" "Hah! I'm not so worried of beatings! Beat me and I'll only laugh!"

Robin clenches his fist, Cyborg has his arm held, "He's not worth it Robin. We'll find her."

"You'll find her corpse." Muses Pakkrat. At this Cyborg flings out the same arm he held Robin's fist with his own punch! "Excuse me! What the hell does that mean?"

Pakkrat was on his back, blood trailing from his nose he only grows in a smile, "I took her out myself. I shot her into the sea near that building earlier. If she didn't get killed by drowning, hypothermia would have left her for dead!"

Robin looks at Pakkrat in disbelief, "No way, she's alive! I know she's alive!" he strangles Pakkrat as the others try to pry him off. As soon as Robin is off of Pakkrat, Pakkrat coughs as he then laughs, "You know why you're so upset, you know it's true! You left her, you abandoned her! I love it I really do!" the cops tear Pakkrat away and drag him off, he merely chuckles to himself as Robin clenches his fist. He looks out at the sea, "We have to find her!" he turns to the others who have strong faces of determination, "We have got to find her!"

Starfire nods, "Yes, she is our friend! Let us make haste!"

Beast Boy nods, "Yeah before she's…" his ears droop, "Uh, you know she's not going to."

Robin looks away, "Of course not. She's a Titan, she'll be fine."

…Unknown Room…

Raven slowly stirs awake, she feels the rough blanket she is under and stirs slowly. She sees the stone room like a kind of single room bunker. Raven tries to bend up but can't completely move herself up. She can get partial way but her back aches. She remembers the beam, it must have caused her some bruises from the impact into the water. Raven hears footsteps towards the door, metal gratings are outside. She sees the small table with a light on it; the little lamp only shows some of the one wall near it and the floor below the table. The door opens, a large muscular figure stands before her arms crossed as they entered into the room. The figure leans themselves on the doorway and shrugs at Raven. Raven lowers her head, "Um, thank you for saving me." She looks up sheepishly, "I don't know what I would do without you."

The figure nods, then grabs two items from outside, then places them on the table. Than motions their head to the cup of water and bowl of soup. Raven reaches out and tries to grab them but winces, her body still strained. The figure then moves the items closer to the edge to her by pushing them with his finger tips. Raven narrows her eyes as the figure was more apparent, she sees the black fittings on the legs with gray pads, they were familiar. Raven sees then the gray pouched belt and then finally the muscular chest with a silver ring around the neck. Raven was about to see the face but she feels the bowl at her tips, Raven grips it and eats the soup, vegetable soup with beef bits. The figure stands at the doorway, watching her eat. Raven finishes the soup and narrows her eyes. She lays it down next to her then reaches for the water, she can not get it. She waits, he tries to move it to her but he moves into the light, Raven gasps as she slams into the bed fast trying to space them apart. The figure chuckles then moves to the wall at the door. "You just had to know didn't you?" the light is flipped on, the whole room is lightened up and the back of the half black half orange head bends back in a sigh, "You just had to know who was it that saved you." The figure turns back around; Raven grips the blankets tightly not in fear just because it seemed natural with who she was with. The one eye looks coldly at Raven, "Sorry, the knight in shining armor was delayed. They sent me instead." Slade walks out the doorway to stop and peer on her once more, "I suggest you rest Raven. Your body is still tired from earlier.

Raven snarls out with a hint of venom in her voice, "Why did you bring me here? Where are the titans?"

"I brought you here because it's where I am hiding… you know, a hideout!" he slowly closes the door, "As for your friends I don't know, but their not here. You're all alone, with me." The door closes, and Raven wishes she could teleport out of this, move from the bed but she couldn't. The injuries were terrible, each movement was painful. Raven sighs with a tear as she lies in the bed. She was trapped with a monster, a monster everyone knows was evil and some suspect obsessed with younger women from his involvement with Terra. Raven cringes, she now hopes he only plans to use her as a bargaining chip for the titans. Raven rolls on her side, why the hell couldn't she just have died? … Why didn't they save her instead? … Why… was she so alone again…?

Note: This story is going to get weird, like really weird. Like… sickeningly weird probably seeing as how Slade is well… creepy as hell. So since this is my attempt at a Slade/Raven fic, something that will get the hate growing we'll see what people say. Could become Raven/Robin, who knows… I left that option open but I really want to be one of the guys who can say 'I did something most are really not proud of doing! I was a first baby!' So if you came in to flame, I expect it yet please take the story to credit. I worked hard on it, and if you only want to flame for the couple I understand but try to take some of the story itself into credit first. Either way, time to put this baby up and see what the populous has to say! (Pakkrat sees hate-mail piling in) Oh… poopey… Read and Review please!