Flickering Shadows

By: Pakkrat

Chapter 2: What did he want?

Disclaimer: Read the earlier one, the same stuff is implied on DC and their characters.

Note: Well, looks like people are not so surprised after all. I figured chapter one would go better than two. Heh, you'll see. Pakkrat appears again; well actually a lot of our story will have him in it. He's modeled after me but is around a character in several stories, this is my second time using him but he's actually part of this Teen Titans/Resident Evil story I'm making where he's the main villain. It will be very interesting but I figured since I needed a good villain in this piece, he'll do just fine. Well without any further ado, chapter two.

"I am the thing that keeps you up at night. The evil that haunts every dark corner of your mind. I will never rest… and neither will you."

Raven opens her eyes and slowly moves under the covers. Raven who was laying on her right side to the wall now lays herself on her back flat. She grabs her head and moans, her body aches. "Good morning." Raven's eyes jolt open wide, she slowly turns her head to the figure sitting at the small lamp table reading a newspaper with his legs crossed, "I thought you would never wake up."

Slade slowly folds his paper and looks on Raven with his eye plainly. "Would you like breakfast? It is still fairly warm."

Raven gives her look of nothingness to him he ignores it and pushes the plate of eggs and toast with some slices of apple. Slade now stands folding his paper in a nice rectangle which he lays on the table. Raven looks to the plate and shifts herself back on the bed painfully, propping herself on the pillow and bed's back. She glares at Slade, "Why were you watching me?"

"I was reading my paper. There is this very interesting headline on it." He now pushes the paper towards Raven with his fingertips. "You should definitely read it."

Raven gives a suspicious look as she situates herself on the edge of the bed and motions her hand to the paper. She instead looks to the food, her stomach grumbles and she drifts towards it instead before cringing her hand. "Is it… poisoned?"

Slade chuckles to himself in his dark manner, "My, we are suspicious aren't we?" he crosses his arms saying "No I find poisoning food is a cowardly way to kill someone." He glares his eye with a wicked hint of pleasure, "I rather more direct means. So I can see their life drift away… slowly… under my own hand."

Raven looks fearful for a moment, Slade raises his hand in laughter, "Oh Raven, you do worry too much. Just eat, than read, and than we may just talk."

Raven has a piece of toast which she pulls off the plate and eats with her free hand cupped under her chin. "I rather the walls as company."

Slade rolls his eye to the remark before laying himself on the opposite wall. His arms crossed firmly over his wide chest he looks on Raven who eats her food. Taking his time he notices her slowly nibbling the toast. She was absolutely beyond comprehension with her manners. Raven finishes the toast and moves to the eggs, however she has trouble getting hold of the plate. Slade walks over and grabs the plate, holds it for her, and she after looking at him as if she did not need any of his help gradually grips the plate then lays it in her lap. "You're welcome."

Raven glares to Slade, "I never said thank you." "Ah, you're welcome." He snidely turns about as Raven glares at him for tricking her in saying thanks. Raven eats the plate and food no complaints were made. Raven was surprised she was even fed; sometimes with Slade you forget he has any memory of what it is to be humane. Raven lays the plate on the floor, then reaches for the paper. She opens it to the front and her eyes shake, "What…" she looses hold of the paper that reads, "Raven of the Teen Titans presumed dead!"

Slade grabs the plates and turns around to leave, "What do you want from me?" Raven asks with slight worry and concern for herself. Slade looks back and raises his brow, "You mean now or long term?" Raven looks to the ground; she didn't want long terms if he had any, so she says "For now."

Slade looks at her leotard, "Strip." Raven becomes wide eyed and pulls the blanket to herself tightly, "Your outfit is still damp I'll dry it for you. I'll bring you a change of clothes and a better blanket, honestly that one always itches." Slade shrugs, "However it is more insulated and when I got you here comfort was second to survival."

Raven looks at her leotard; it did feel damp as hell not to mention the blanket now. She looks at Slade and glares with slight hate, "How do I know you're not just trying to get me nude?" Slade gives a distasteful look to her accusation, "How can I be sure you're not going to try and force yourself on me like you did Terra?"

Slade calmly turns back to the door, and opens it but only stands at it. "Well, to each question you can't really be sure can you? I mean, if you believe I could then who knows what you can believe." She sees his grip on the doorknob was tightly gripped; his arm kind of shakes as if anger rises into his clenched hand. "However, you're here and don't forget just what has perspired. You are not in the position to challenge me and if I come back here and your clothes are not folded on that table," he turns a slight fire in his eye, "I'll come and strip you myself, understood?"

Raven shifts on the bed and nods, Slade leaves out the door to ready what he must. Raven grips on the blanket her eyes darting back and forth. The titans think she was killed? What was she going to do? They have to find her, she has to be rescued. Slade has her trapped what was she supposed to do? Raven looks at the door, and bearing her teeth she slowly rolls the sleeve of her leotard readying to remove it.

…Titans Tower…

Robin walks in a pace over the floor in the main room. He keeps looking over everything. He and the others had just returned from scuba diving the waters for clues. Aqualad also assisted by asking all the fish in the area that day of anything strange. They sadly said everything seemed pretty normal aside from a giant rat monster scaring them off. Robin stomps his foot, "Damn it!"

"Robin!" Starfire has her hands in a plea, "There is no more we may contribute without appropriate nourishment and rest. May we not do so?"

Robin turns to the table with breakfast spread out. He sees Beast Boy and Cyborg who have been poking at their food dispassionately. Robin looks at Starfire with tears in her eyes, "I… I know, let's eat." Robin sits at the table and eats his plate. Beast Boy sighs, "Raven loves my tofu eggs… I think she did."

Cyborg smirks, "Yeah, she used to love tossing them in your face with her powers."

Robin has some food in his mouth chewing it as his hand grips tightly on his fork, Starfire smiles, "She was always so playful with you friend Beast Boy, she will be missed."

"Erargh!" Robin tosses his fork down making it bounce off the plate and to the floor, "What the hell is wrong with you all? Are you giving up?"

The others look away to their sides, "She's not dead she's out there and needs our help."

Cyborg nods, "We know but… the thing is you heard the police they said unless she found shelter and heat to dry her and raise her temperature her chances to survive were…"

"But the chance remains!" Robin glares to the others, "She's alive I know it. Unless you want to give up on this I'll just find her myself." Robin turns leaving his plate, "Probably a better chance at finding her alone anyway."

The others look at Robin storm off to his room. Starfire readies to leave but Cyborg grabbed her arm, "Let me leave, Robin wishes for my…"

Cyborg sighs, "He wants his time trust me. We don't need to agitate Robin anymore than we already have." He lowers his head in shame, "Sometimes I let the scientific part of me forget what really matters, it's always hope."

Beast Boy pokes at his tofu before clenching his hand into a fist, "You know… it's all that Pakkrat guys fault."

Starfire sits at the table her eyes in tears before glowing green, "He should be sentenced to the Margael Mines of Plurborath!" the boys blink at her statement, she blushes saying "A very unhappy place."

…Jump City Jail…

The guard rolls back, grabbing at his nose that now bleeds, "The bastard bit my nose!"

Pakkrat was being contained by the other officers, he roars out "Don't touch my freaking shades you asses! I'll rip the heart out of the first man to touch them!"

The Warden of the prison smirks as he walks in. He has a western look with the handlebar mustache and goatee. Warden Reeve steps out with western boots, instantly gripping Pakkrat's glasses he twirls them then places them under his western hat. Pakkrat has his eyes glaring on the man, snarling he says "I'll be getting those back!"

Reeve chuckles as he orders the prisoner in the commons room. They tried to put him in prison clothes but who cares, half the villains have their loony outfits on still. Reeve sits at his desk putting his boots on the desk he snarls, "Filthy criminals, I'm sick of dealing with them all. That one thinks he can tell me what to do, ha!" Reeve sees his two men salute him, "Get on in there, keep and eye on him."

Pakkrat is stumbling into the commons area after he was pushed in, he sniffs the room and catches five scents, Pakkrat opens his eyes and looks at the room and sees several things he likes, a large TV monitor, table hockey, some model of a submarine made out of real metal, "Heh, they're making this too damn easy."

The other criminals look at him, not their normal kind of company. One large criminal, Johnny Rancid who stands tall and large with his pale skin and spiked black hairs walks over, "Hey what's your name?"

Pakkrat turns, Rancid shifts a moment before stepping away, "Whoa…" he moves into the wall as Pakkrat snarls lowly. He sees the books and grabs one 3-D book to take the cardboard glasses, "Damn pig… I'll get my shades back." He places the glasses over his eyes now seeing a red/blue color. "Well now this sucks." He sighs grabbing a small bag of cheese, "I best get to work."

…Titans Tower…

Robin stands on the roof; he frowns as he sees the waves splashing on the island. That was not as depressing as finding the cold cup of herbal tea here as well. Robin holds the mug and sighs, Raven was gone and it was his entire fault. Robin grips the mug tightly, "Raven, I will find you…" he grips the mug hard enough to make it shatter. The porcelain clatters to the ground and Robin stands with some pieces in his hand. Robin tosses the pieces to the sea in a scream. They do not make it but rather hit the island ground but he doesn't care it was more he just wanted to relieve stress. Robin sits back down and feels a chill, the weather was cold. Robin feels his cape move on his thy and smiles, "I will find her."

Starfire floats in smiling, "Friend Robin, I and the others were wondering if you would enjoy finishing your breakfast with us."

Robin turns and frowns, "Will we be talking about Raven?" Starfire looks to her feet but smiles up, "I will not speak of Raven unless it is in how we will find her! She will be with us soon I am positive!"

Robin grins as he stands and brushes off his tights, "Okay, let's all get a move on."

Cyborg storms through the door, "Robin! We have news!" Robin looks up, "Aqualad says one of his fish friends saw Raven!" Robin runs to Cyborg, "What are we waiting for?"

…The Hideout…

Slade opens the door slowly seeing the clothes folded on the table. He enters the room and grabs them taking a second to look at the bed his eye stops, and then closes as he tries to hold in his laughter. Raven has wrapped herself entirely within the blanket, her eyes seeing through the hood of fabric she has made around herself, "Shut up! I wouldn't have done this if it wasn't for you!"

Slade stands rubbing his eye, "Ah that certainly makes my evening. You must truly fear me, as you should." Slade has his eye on Raven which makes her shift herself back onto the wall, "Each time I come in here I keep my distance from you, yet you never notice do you?" Raven raises a brow, actually he was right. He pushes the food to her, or other items. He has not come close to her except that one time with the plate, "… why?"

Slade grabs the clothes, "Raven, you always say you like to have your space." He closes the door and says outside "I respect that, so respect my wishes and put the other clothes on." He is heard walking off so Raven soon lets the hood of the blanket fall over her shoulders, the pale shoulders are heaving up and down as she had become very frightened being in a room with a man without any clothing on. She slowly shifts to the table and grabs for the clothes. She finds a shirt, pants; shoes were on the floor as he did not take hers. Raven frowns, the idiot left her no undergarments.

Slade walks to the washer and dryer, he has a load of his own battle garbs in the washer then he sees Raven's. Taking the leotard and gloves he moves them into the washer along with her black short socks. Slade sees two other garments, the bra which was a black little thing along with the panties, he shifts uneasily as he puts them in his washer with his clothes. "Why do women buy such little… things…" he shudders, turning on the machine he waits then his eye grows huge. He just threw a pair of freaking underwear from his nemesis Raven! "Damn it!" He threw them in with HIS clothes! He pulls open the lid and pulls out the two garments, the hell with cleaning them with his clothes! Slade slowly puts the machine back to order before grabbing himself a chair. Slade sits; displeased slightly he has so much hassle now. However it was better than being alone, hiding from everyone. He shifts in the chair, what company really is Raven though? She is always trying to keep him away from her, and she means to try and make him angrier each time he enters that damn room. That last statement really pissed Slade off, the rumors he heard were some sick things. Slade looks to Raven's undergarments, and rolls his eyes as he walks over and tosses them into the washer the sooner he had her clothes cleaned and dried the sooner she could put them back on and he didn't have to hear, "Did you like this outfit?" or "Does this do it for you?" Slade grabs the mask and removes it, rubbing his temples he moans, "I couldn't find anything but…"

Raven looks at the outfit with a sweat, "A cat girl?" she has her left eye twitch, "Sweet Azarath he better not be trying to role-play."

Raven has the tight tiger stripped bikini like thing over her body, the cat paws and feet as gloves and shoes. The head has a small set of cat ears; she so did not like this… not at all. Slade opens the door and lays the clothes on the table, "There…" he looks at her and tries to hold his laughter again, "Oh… wow…" he walks back out and bellows in laughter to the halls. Raven glares through the metal and uses what power she had to cause anything to break outside and fall. She grins until Slade pops his head in stating, "You missed, Kitty-Witty…" he slams the door as Raven tossed her cat ears at him.

(Toss up between this, or Swedish maid. I just went with the one, no difference really)

…The Jail…

The Warden blinks at the reports, "Rats? Rats keep taking… what again?"

The first guard sweats, "Well, they took a can from the mess hall I think it was a jumbo aluminum can of corn. The others took all the billiard balls from the officers wreck room, and then the rest took the submarine model, two paddles from the table hockey, and parts from the TV in the prisoners wreck room." The Warden rubs his chin, "I don't get it, why the hell would they do that?" he takes off the shades he was wearing and wipes his brow, "I mean, what the hell could have got into them?" he puts the shades on but now a rat was on them, he screams smacking the rat into a wall. He runs over and tries to stomp the rat, he huffs turning to the shades, "Find Pakkrat…"

Pakkrat smirks as he pets the rat from the office, "He-he. Good try Smithy…" he pets the rat now standing on its hind legs squeaking. "Now, where's Michael?" sure enough a white mouse with pink eyes skitters in and holds in its mouth a special type of knife, able to cut through anything these knives were used in the kitchen as special butcher knives. Pakkrat carves out the Corn can and leaves two spots open in it. He smiles as he tosses the debris down and finagles himself with some small pipes from the basement, connecting them to the metal Submarine model that was hollow inside. Pakkrat now moves onto the next part, "Okay, a little longer… and I'm out of here AFTER I repay my debt to that Warden!"

Smithy squeaks, Pakkrat pets it under the chin, "Don't worry I'll get him for you to." He gives the rat a piece of cheese, "My little baby… aw."

…Titans Tower…

Cyborg turns on the computer for Robin, "Here, this is what he has." Aqualad is smiling as he waves to the others, his long shinned black hair waves from the water now glistening on his face. He was still at the waters where Raven was lost. Robin asks, "Hey, where is Raven?"

Aqualad frowns, "Sorry but I don't know that. I do know someone saved her." The others scream in joy "I asked the fish if there was anything he knew but sadly he didn't see what saved her."

"What?" Beast Boy blinks, "What kind of what?"

Aqualad shrugs, "Hey we don't know, but it was human in form so probably a human." The titans look at Aqualad, "What? I don't know… they said it was human looking but may have been something else. You know how specist some fish are."

Robin nods and says thanks before turning off the screen. "Okay, we have a shinning glimmer of hope! We need to go back there and see if we can get some clues!"

Cyborg cocks his arm, "Booya! I knew she was okay!" he seems very relieved, "I mean, somewhere I was worried but…"

Beast Boy twiddles his thumbs, "Uh, sorry to be a party pooper but if someone saved her why didn't they say anything? I mean… who saved her?"

Starfire smiles, "Whoever did it we owe them a great debt of gratitude. We will have a parade and…"

Robin looks to the others, "Hold it Beast Boy is right, they never said anything to us or paramedics. Why would they do that?"

The titans look around; it was obvious why someone would do that. Robin clenches his fist, "All of you go and see what you can find, and I'll wait for a ransom."

…The Prison…

The guards slowly enter the basement, there is instantly a sign of worry as rats sit and watch them enter from the pipes. The guards gulp, and walk slowly. The dank pipes leak and creak as they move into the rusty area. The guards have batons at the ready. Slowly a figure stomps out, "Hey! How's it going?" the guards ready their batons, "Oh? Is that all you got?" Pakkrat raises his right arm and fires a billiard ball into the one guard ricocheting it off his head and into the other ones. Pakkrat chuckles, "5 ball, side pockets!"

Pakkrat constructed a crude device. The Sub was cut in half making an arm covering that has the corn can protruding through the front of the sub like a barrel. The barrel has the paddles from the hockey table spinning wildly so when the billiard balls pass by them they shoot out with immense force. They stop as Pakkrat releases a grip inside the sub arm bracer. A pudding ring set with string releases the billiards in a tube of rubber falling on to the back of Pakkrat. It was like a super potato gun, but much more irregular. The battery from storage is held in the sub cover to power the spinning paddles from the trigger. Pakkrat walks out of the basement after grabbing the keys from a guard.

Pakkrat wanders the halls firing on any guards who tried to stop him. One tries to duck behind a corner and Pakkrat smirks, "Rebound shot, right bottom pocket!" he fires onto the wall making the ball rebound off another wall then into the guard making him huff in the ball to his chest. Pakkrat walks over and sees the guard kicking him unconscious. Pakkrat feels a gun to his head, he turns slightly and frowns. The Warden smiles, "Only one ball left, 8 Ball of all things."

Pakkrat chuckles sinisterly, "I still have one more than you do Reeve."

Reeve growls lowly, "I still have your shades shit for brains!"

Pakkrat nods, "Oh I forgot!" something grabs the shades and lifts them off, Reeve gags as the long rat tail from Pakkrat's jacket pulls the shades off before turning and firing the 8 ball straight between Reeve's eyes. Pakkrat chuckles as he tosses the 3-D glasses on Reeve, showing his golden colored eyes with inhuman irises squinting in the light, "I told you I was getting these back." He puts on his shades then kicks the Warden in the sides, "Also, don't screw with my rats!"

Pakkrat takes the keys from Reeve and walks off whistling as he twirls them. He leaves the prison and calls a cab, not that bad a deal really. Not to mention another toy for him to take home, he was a Pakkrat and collecting junk was something of a hobby.

…The Hideout…

Raven has her clothes back on. She sees the newspaper and sighs, 'Trapped with that monster. No hope of rescue while they think I'm dead.' She looks at her shoes as she puts them on. Raven dangles her legs over the side of the bed and taps them together while saying "There's no place like home…" she opens her eyes and frowns, it was a long shot anyway. The steps are heard outside; Raven realizes Slade was coming again. He opens the door and instantly Raven quips, "Don't you have anything better to do than harass me?"

Slade takes a deep breath then walks over with a cup of herbal tea, "I was figuring you might wish to meditate. So I brought you something to soothe you."

Raven gives a glare, "Oh, I see." She smirks her cocky little grin, her tone of disgust plays out "Soothe as in drug me so you can have your way with me in my sleep."

Slade stands with the saucer and tea steaming from the cup. Slade lays the cup down and pushes it to Raven. Raven has her hand out trying to grab the cup as a strong hand now grips her wrist, she is startled as the mattress is grabbed then pulled off the springs. The mattress is on the floor, Raven looks up to the ceiling and soon the face of Slade as he lays himself on top of her still shocked form. Slade slinks his eye as it is in path with hers. Raven breathes heavily as she feels his weight against her, his chest barely crushing her as he has his other arm shifting his weight off of her but rather over her. Raven has a blush and the lamp has already exploded, the over light is still working. Slade has her one arm pinned over her head; the other one is on his chest not pushing him, kind of holding him off of her. Raven is in pain, her wounds still flaring up.

Slade lowers his head to her, and his breath moves out of the mask and onto her face with such heat she whimpers at it, "Raven… I could do such horrible things to you. I could rip away your clothes, your little underwear and bra. I could rub and caress your form, explore your orifices with my tongue, and lash out on you with every hideous and depraved rumor you ever heard of my sexual appetites. I could do anything, because," Slade's eye flickers with her tears streaming her face, he moves her arm under his weight so he can safely move this hand and remove her tears, "Let's face it, you can't fight me little Raven. You're in pain, weak, and you need all your strength to heal your injuries to be the hero of darkness. I could take advantage of you." Slade moves off of her, she bends her head as he was standing at her feet, "I could… but I won't. You know why?" Raven looks angrily as she pushes herself off of the bed painfully, "I'm not a damn deviant! I'm many terrible things but not that! I never, ever, EVER took advantage of any woman not even Terra!" he grips Raven and puts her into the chair before flipping the mattress onto the springs again. "You remember this little Raven. I could have just done anything to you but didn't, so stop being such a bitch!" He grabs her by the hips and tosses her onto the bed where she reels out in pain; she pushes herself up and growls lowly.

"I don't care what you say you're a monster! You just leave me alone!" she is crying into the bed, "I just want to be alone."

Slade grabs the doorway and walks out half-way before turning back. "Get some sleep. I'll be back with your dinner in a little while. Hopefully," he glares an angry eye on her, "You've learned your lesson."

Slade closes the door with a loud slam. He moves down the halls some distance before stopping then slamming a fist into the wall. That was not in his plan… he did not plan on treating Raven that way. He slowly moves his hand back to his tailbone and makes his way back to his control room until he readied to prepare a meal. He had plans for Raven, and if he looses it like this again she may never follow him along. Slade was not intentionally trying to frighten her; oh he got pleasure from it but not a part of his plan. He had to make her need him, want him, beg for him. Only then, could he accept her as his apprentice…

Raven looks at the door, her mind is buzzing, the things that just happened. She had Slade, the most evil man she knew on her. The thing that worries her was not the fact he had her under him, under his will, under his actual body but… he didn't do anything. He didn't grope her, rip her clothes. Slade did not try to force himself between her legs or anything like the titans said he did to Terra. Slade even removed her tears as she cried. Raven holds her head; her mind often races with thoughts however this… this was so confusing. Slade was evil and he was a killer. Slade was many horrible if not devilish things yet he was not the one thing she seems to fear from him most, a depraved rapist. Though a part of her still feels he may want to take advantage of her, she is relaxed under the small moment he could have done something but he did not. Raven lays herself down and closes her eyes. One more thing has her mind buzzing, under that moment when she had him over her and his warm breath moved onto her lips, she wished she was kissed. Yes, she wanted to be kissed by him, Slade, the murdering psychopath she was once bullied from her father through. Raven feels a tear, and whimpers out in sadness, "Why… am I always so alone…"

Note: Well… that must have caused controversy. Either way you see what has been going on! My now, all these reviews! All in support! YOU PEOPLE ARE AWESOME! Nice, very nice! Allow me to also say, Z. Brite has written a fantastic little story about Raven where it seems she is in heat, and anything with a demonic background wants a piece of her… uh, not like pieces but you know a REAL piece! The story is called "In Heat", Z. Brite can be found in the reviews to this story so if you can take a read, the chapters are short which makes it nice to enjoy! Well, till the next chapter I'll leave you!

To all the reviewers, I'll simply say thank you for your surprising appreciation, I may do another Slade/Raven fic one day, but this is good enough for now! Please keep reviewing I love to hear what people think, did I portray Slade well in this chapter I sometimes read it and thought maybe I made him nicer than he should be.