Flickering Shadows

By: Pakkrat

Chapter 3: What is Pakkrat?

Disclaimer: Teen Titans, Slade, All DC baby! I'll be taking my rights to Pakkrat, the Rat-Pakk and other OC stuff in here.

Note: To all the reviewers that seemed to see a slight mishap with my portrayal of Slade, I did make him less creepy for the T rating, also I made him laugh. These are the things I find oddly out of place. Well we can't be perfect so I can only try harder. If anyone can help me with improving on Slade please do. I am planning a second story in which the rating is M. It will be my FIRST M rated fic having nudity, sexual situations, and certain word phrasings that most do not like. Till then this T Romance story is more my preparation to an M fiction. Also, a little fun-time with Pakkrat! This chapter has your little villain putting the moves on Starfire most times I try this I get slapped… sadly… maybe if I had the whole demon rat thing going on for me! Hey, take a read and enjoy!

Slade keeps himself in his training facility for the most part. Still aggravated he found watching the tapes of earlier defeats and several recent endeavors of other villains more annoying than anything else. Slade now has his fists pounding into the punching bag. His muscles flexed under the black outfit Slade launches punch after punch in strong forceful blows. Slade sees his other mishap, Raven, from earlier. Damn, he could loose all his work in one moment of anger. Slade was not worried over how she felt; he needs to know will she still be capable of taking his offer? Slade was not one to loose, he hates to loose. This was strategy and he lives for strategy.

Slade lands a great right launching the bag back. Slade waits for it to stop moving in its force to strike again. His thoughts moved to Terra that bitch. He worked the same game on Terra. Terra was not willing to be an apprentice anymore than Robin or Raven; however she did want something from him. Slade realized soon after he had fought her again when she left little, frightened Terra wanted control BUT she also wanted to belong. Slade offered her a place to stay, a home to call her own, and more importantly the love she craved. Slade soon found himself pretending to be a "good" man after that but the second she let him down Slade turned on her ungrateful backside! Terra called him into her arms not the other way around. Terra wanted him to love her, not the other way around. Slade wanted an apprentice not a lover. Still, she was willing to follow him into hell if she thought he would be there for her. He said he was, but she still betrayed him! Slade launches a final strike making the bag rip. Slade heaves, his body sweats under the clothing so he growls then storms off. He figures now he was ready to try one more shot at getting Raven to warm up to him less he actually has to move towards more direct methods of seduction. If she would follow the same path as Terra he figures he could do better. Raven was a mix of Robin and Terra, athleticism and power. Slade respects her powers and he lusted after them like a fine wine. He wants Raven at his side because she was what he knew he needed to finally achieve his goals.

Raven lays with her right eye sort of twitching, she rolls over to her other side positioning her arm under the pillow. "Stop it…" her eyes close, "Stop it…" she then rolls on her back with a loud huff to now swing up the pillow onto her face and scream into it muffled to the room, "STOP IT!"

Raven was trying to stop her thoughts on Slade. Yes, ever since he came in and put himself that close to her Raven has continued to see Slade in her mind. Raven tries to ignore the thoughts, thoughts of his warm and pleasant breath nipping her lips, the heat of his muscular and definitely powerful frame upon her own. Raven tries to ignore the thoughts until finally she succeeds to her meditation. Raven moves painfully to her meditative stance, legs crossed and arms out she slowly chants her words, "Azarath… Metrion… Zinthos…" and continues at the times she needs them. Raven only halts to her still warm mug of tea, she sips this and smiles, Chamomile, not bad even… very soothing… "Yawn…" Raven lets a small yawn out before putting the mug down. She returns to meditation until she sees a glimpse of Slade caressing her hair… "…." Raven with her brows twitching slightly continues meditation again, only stopping from the unholy glimpses of Slade in her twisted mind.

…Titans Tower…

Robin sits at the table his eyes vigilant on the phone now waiting there. He waits for the others to return but they do not. He knows they planned on searching for until the night and it was now turning dark. They should be home soon. Robin sighs, "Why didn't I…" the phone rings, he grabs it and snarls, "Where's Raven?"

The voice on the other end was Cyborg he simply blinks before saying "Guess no one called huh?"

Robin sighs as he lays into the chair, "No, no one called." He flips the channels on the TV "I can't deal with this Cyborg. If she's in trouble it's my entire fault."

Cyborg turns to see Beast Boy as a blood hound sniffing away as Starfire searches overhead, "You know it's no one's fault. We are doing what we can. As for clues… nothing yet." Robin groans, "Hey, we are looking as hard as…"

Robin speaks lowly, "He escaped…" Cyborg is confused, "Pakkrat, he escaped…"

Robin watches the news report as a female broadcaster speaks to the audience with her frizzled hair and large smile in a red dress, "Hello ladies and gentlemen this just in on the "Pakkaged-Rat Affair." Pakkrat previously escaped from prison with some kind of… billiard ball gun?" she turns to her associates, "Are you sure… okay…" she turns back in her smile, "Resources say he took a cab which he used to make an undisclosed stop and now has disappeared like a rat from a sinking ship. Back to you Bob."

Bob a man in a bad toupee smiles, "Thanks Suzie! Now, our leading story. Fluffy-Kittens, aren't they so cutesy-wootsy!"

Robin turns off the TV "Just our luck now we have him on the streets again. Did you do a check on him we should try his home now."

Cyborg nods, "I'll send the address to you and we'll meet you there." Cyborg looks to Beast Boy with a crab on his nose, Starfire tries to pry it off, "Oh man… got to go!" Cyborg hangs up and Robin rubs his temples laying into his seat. "How could this get any worse?"

…The Hideout…

Slade stands with the two TV dinners, one Salisbury steak meal and another Boneless Rib meal. Slade makes his way to the room Raven stays in and slowly takes a step to the door. He hears movement and slowly glares to his two meals. "… What is she planning?" Slade lays the two meals down at a small table next to the door before entering. Slade quickly dodges forward as the lamp nearly strikes his head. Slade rolls back and grabs the lamp as it goes at him again, "Raven!" Slade slams the lamp onto the table and lowers his stare to the meditating Raven, "Don't give me that, I know what you were doing!" Slade stomps over to Raven who continues her meditation, "You think using your powers so soon will help you? It only makes you have to stay with me longer, unless you like that then do NOT do that again!"

Raven slowly opens her eyes, "Oh, when did you get here?"

Slade stands up tall, "…." Slade moves to the dinners and lays them on the table before taking the rib dinner to his opposite side of the table. Slade unhooks his mask, Raven looks over and Slade glares to her as he removes the mask to now allow him to move food under the mask and to his mouth. Raven has turned to the meal now in her lap, "… I hate Salisbury." Slade has yet to eat his meal she looks over and sighs, "Though… that rib looks appetizing."

Slade growls lowly, he was not amused. "Fine…" Slade latches his mask on his head and switches meals with Raven. They eat but Raven as she ate her mashed potatoes asks with a forkful, "Can I ask you some questions?"

Slade has a lump of potatoes under his mask before looking up with his eye to her, "Pardon?" Raven looks to him then shies to her food, "I… I want to know some things. Would you be willing to answer questions for me?"

Slade looks to his meal before taking a bite for himself. Slade chews as Raven looks at him. Slade finishes as he completes his debating mentally, "I will answer questions if you can strike my hands." Raven is puzzled, "If you do not strike and I dodge, you must answer a question by me." Slade raises his piece of steak, "Agreed?" he eats it with his eye slightly shifting, he hated Salisbury too. Raven is reluctant but nods, "Agreed."

"No taking back! You must follow through completely!" Slade is adamant in making her understand his terms. Raven glares at him and nods, "I agree, anything I know and you know."

The two finish their meals quietly. Raven finishes first and moves to the edge of the bed, Slade soon finishes and moves his seat over to her bed. The two look at each other's faces sternly before holding out their hands. Raven's hand shake slightly before becoming stone, Slade never flinched in his stare. The first swing Raven makes she hits his hands, Slade kind of growls lowly not pleased he was struck. "First," Raven gives an angry snarl, "Do you have any connection with Pakkrat?"

Slade shrugs, "I do not believe I do." Raven gives a snort, "Honestly I do not know this Pakkrat person but he certainly did a number on you."

They move hands again, this time Raven swipes but Slade pulls back his hands, Raven clenches her teeth as Slade thinks for a moment, "Is your father still trying to influence you?" A worry Slade has often was Trigon, not often do you betray a demon god and get away with it. Raven looks to her side, "Yes, he still tries to influence me. I can control him at times but like before his own power affects my own."

Slade nods, a problem he has to try and control. Slade holds out his hands and soon the two look at each other. Raven strikes and Slade rolls his eye, again she got him. "What was with that… costume…?" Raven gives a distasteful look. Slade rubs his eyes with his one hand, "I had little choice. There is very little in apparel in this place." The next round Raven hits Slade's hands and he moans, "Where are we?" Slade looks at Raven, "My hideout." She glares, "You know what I meant Slade!"

Slade raises a brow, "I do? You seemed to ask where we were and I answered truthfully did I not?"

Raven grumbles to herself before they resume. Slade dodges under her hands, "Hm," Slade relishes in the victory as Raven grudgingly crosses her arms, "I think I'll save this one for another time." Raven glares at him about to say he could not do that, "Remember you never said anything about using our questions when we get them. I choose to save this one!"

Raven with great hate agrees. The next round begins but Raven grabs Slade's hands with energy before smacking, Slade had barely landed his foot into her stomach launching her hard into the wall. Slade stands, his eye was not angry but actually pleased. "Raven, that was so underhanded." He is almost on the verge of proud. "I think I liked that. You certainly are full of surprises."

Raven was on her stomach sunken in by the pain, she looks up with her one eye in pain twitching from the shock of his kick. Slade raises his chin and turns to leave, "What exactly were you going to ask?" Raven narrows her eyes, "It was my turn since I dodged your slap." Raven turns to her side, "Will… will I ever get to go home?"

"Ah, the secret agenda to your game." Slade turns back with a glimmer of evil, "It all depends on where your home will be." Slade turns back around, "I guess we'll have to wait and see."

Slade leaves the room and Raven slowly moves onto her sitting position, holding her stomach from the pain. Raven rubs the wound and whimpers, "That hurt…" Raven looks up and questions, what did Slade mean? She slowly looks around the room nothing more but to sleep, tomorrow would be here soon.

…Pakkrat's Old Place…

Robin rides in on his R-Cycle. He looks over the apartment complex and waits to hear the T-Car soon arriving. Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy come over and look at the large dilapidated facility. They enter into the apartment complex making their way to the room Pakkrat stayed in. It was one of those little rooms with one room kitchen/dining/living quarters with a separate bathroom and bedroom. The titans begin looking into the contents of the dirty quarters finding nothing they seemed to believe was worth while. Robin does see a small figure of himself, a Robin figure on the table. "What was he doing with this?" Robin walks over and picks it up, there is a cord that is pulled and the titans have doors open up swallowing them whole. Robin turns to see the others were gone, his eye twitches, "Just great…"

Cyborg lands in a puddle of water; his eye twitches as he sees some floating boards and trash, "The trash bin?"

The voice of Pakkrat comes from all around, "A fitting place for a pile of garbage, no?" Cyborg sprawls up with his sonic cannon ready, "Don't worry Cyborg I plan not to play with you today. I have more pressing matters!" Cyborg raises a brow to the many white rats squeaking at the end of the water pool. His eye grows huge as he realizes several are eating at a large wire half submerged in the water. This wire is hooked to the electronics of the building and as the rats gnaw to the core they let the wire seep into the water electrocuting and overloading Cyborg. Pakkrat steps next to the white rats, and smirks, "Shocking… get it?" the rats give glares to Pakkrat, he frowns, "Oh who asked you?"

Beast Boy runs back and forth as he was trapped in a kennel. He growls lowly as a dog, then roars as a lion. Beast Boy turns to his ape forms and uses his hands or brawn to try and break free. Beast Boy sighs deeply with his loss of breath, "What the hell is this?"

A TV turns on; Beast Boy looks up and gives a glare to Pakkrat who has Cyborg tied in a chair behind him with chains, "Nothing too ambitious. I figured I could deal with you very easily." The screen turns to a Mad Mod brain wheel, Beast Boy drools as his eyes imitate the screen, Pakkrat chuckles "See… what… I…" Pakkrat has a small slither of drool until a rat turns off the screen. Pakkrat jumps up and shakes his head, "Huh, not a good idea to use that often."

Robin is making his way to the roof; he does not like how things have gone. He was barely there when a door catches his eye. Starfire was elsewhere, she says with a great sigh "Where are my friends?" she was in a room with a nice sized bed and dresser. She soon hears a sudden stomp, "Hello-Hello!" she turns and is greeted by the grip of Pakkrat on her face, viciously taking her into the air than tossing her on the bed.

Starfire looks up and her eyes beam forth striking Pakkrat on the opposite wall. Pakkrat shakes his head after peeling off, "Where are my friends?" Pakkrat looks up to Starfire's snarl, he is on his knees, "You know… a man should not be on his knees less he was supposed to do something!" he lunges forward flipping Starfire on her back, then pinning her legs at his face, "Get it?"

Starfire having his head at her thighs growls before twirling mid air and tossing Pakkrat off with her two legs locked on his neck. Pakkrat twirls off the leg toss and looks up again, "Aw… not playful? I promise I can be VERY enjoyable!"

Starfire raises a brow, "What do you mean?" Pakkrat stands and crosses his arms, "Well, I think I like you." She blinks "I like the green eyes, red hair," Pakkrat makes a stroll arms still crossed over to Starfire, "Orange complexion, cute smile…" Starfire raises her right hand with a bolt but Pakkrat leaps forth gripping the arm with his free right hand, "Also… I like the determination. Kind of kinky."

Starfire strains with the hold, his human power should not be this grand even if he worked out, there was more working here. "Who… who are you?"

"I am a man who found a power." Pakkrat tugs Starfire into his own form, his trench falls around her frame and she turns a brighter color with his forceful free left arm in her back closing their gap more. "The power of the soul. Do you know what early dark ages sought from rats?" Starfire shakes her head no, "Rats, were known as symbols of wisdom. Also the soul, stories say a man or woman for that matter could release their soul as a rat as they slept. Witches and Warlocks are the ones most renowned for this indiscriminant power over the soul and used it as a form of vengeance upon their enemies. Farmers who dared discriminate against the magi would therefore have crops devoured by covenants of soul rats, and soon the legends grew." Pakkrat chuckles, Starfire has a lump in her throat that she swallows as his one arm leaves her back hip and slowly trails up her back, the sensation was…

Pakkrat let her arm free and moves his right arm at her hip side, "You know what else was interesting on the rats of legend and lore? Some faithful to the gods sought rats as divine weapons used to test men and women for the simple act of faith. A plague or pestilence forged by rodent mobs was very effective in causing men and women to question their faiths. I find the rodent very interesting where as most ignore their amazing powers." Pakkrat shifts his both hands down to Starfire's hips and growls a small satisfied growl, she is stunned more as his eyes glow through the shades and soon her last fraction of discerned fear was gone, "The rat, rodent, are most evolved beings earth offers. They're the thing man should have been. They adapt to their surroundings instead of making the surrounding adapt to them. A rat eats on electrical man's cords becoming charged over years of this habit with an electrical field. This ability is an interesting one, the power to use electricity at a whim of the touch… something erotic in that isn't there?"

Starfire is now caught in a gasp of shock as she felt two hands reaching under her skirt, gripping onto her hips as she had the purple appendage rolled onto her hips exposing her purple undergarment. Pakkrat coos into her face, his force lifts her now floating form up to his lips inches in distance, "Starfire…" Pakkrat speaks in deep breaths of heat and seduction coated venom, "Is Raven dead?" Starfire in her daze shakes her head no she has her eyes lucidly shaking at this unexplainable power this man was using. "So do you have any clues?" Pakkrat raises a brow; she again shakes her head no. Her head leans back as Pakkrat slowly moves his left hand to the back of her head and holds it for her. "I see… thank you." He leans in and kisses her slightly tilting his head to her loosely bobbing form. She moans a pleasure she shared once with Robin was this kissing thing. However, the recent means in which this being used to seduce her was adding to the pleasure. Pakkrat slowly pulls back, a grin on his lips as she tries to lean after his lips, "Another time… perhaps." He slowly lays her on the bed; she feels tired now and sleeps. Pakkrat smirks before turning about to Robin.

Robin has his right fist shaking, "How dare you?"

Pakkrat shifts his shades, "Hey, it's not like she said no or stop. I would have if she wanted me to." Robin roars out in a punch but Pakkrat dodges to the side then lands a strong punch in the gut. Robin rolls off the swing gagging; his ribs feel the force still chiming in his chest "How… did you… get stronger?"

Pakkrat pulls from his shirt a medallion, on it a horned rat. "This is a medallion of curses. This little toy, I stole from a being called Pakkurath. He's some kind of super-shadow mind demon that collects magical crap. I learned curses like this one allow a person to turn into their animal equivalent. I am a rat in name," Pakkrat swings his tail out from his trench and over to Starfire where it rubs her thigh, "Soon I might be more than just that but in flesh as well." Pakkrat slithers his tail into the trench and moves back to the doors, "See you later kid, I have a friend of yours to find… and settle a score with!"

…The Hideout…

Slade sits at his seat in the control room before he hears a clang. He sighs before standing. Slade makes his way down the halls to where Raven now lays her face on the ground. Slade rolls his eye before saying "What on earth were you doing?"

Raven looks her brows up from her chin, "Getting out of here…" she is soon gripped and flung over his shoulder, "No! Let me go!"

Slade walks her to the room she once had been. Raven can not punch him or kick him as she fainted in exhaustion. Her injuries she tries to heal but her own stamina has been drained from the initial attack. Raven slowly complies with the ordeal when she falters herself limply on Slade's shoulder. Slade gives a disgruntled moan as she now pushes her head up and drums her fingers on his shoulder, "Would you stop squirming?"

Raven sighs as they enter the room. Slade unaffectionately flings her off his shoulder and on the bed, Raven screams and reels on the bed, "Ah! It hurts!"

Slade stops and turns about, "What's wrong?" Raven sits up on the bed and rubs her back. Slade sighs as he walks over and motions his hand flat, "Lay on your stomach." Raven seems confused but she does so. Slade swings his leg over her on the bed; she becomes frightened as he cradled her under himself. His left hand trails her spine until a sudden jolt makes Raven gasp in pain. Slade slinks his eye as he takes his right hand and puts it under her neck, "Arc your back." She looks at his arms and realizes he is trying to reposition her back. She arcs with his left pressing her spine as the right holds on her shoulders and moves her arced on her stomach. Slade feels a crack, Raven moans and Slade nods, "There, you can relax now." Slade lets her slowly roll on her stomach again before letting her shoulders go makings sure she did not fall flat on her face.

Slade moves off of the bed and sighs deeply when he sits on the chair, "You certainly do like to be the center of attention."

Raven rolls her face to Slade, lying limply on the bed she simply rolls her eyes with "Only because you can't seem to let me be."

Slade nods, "Well you do seem to call my attention." She gives a slightly confused look as his eye seemed to be skimming over her lying there, Slade notices she caught his stare, he slinks his eye before standing. "Raven, I have a question for you to answer." She looks over with concern for this was one of those questions she could not lie to. "Would you ever think about…" he stops, "No… We'll hold off on the questions you've had a long night. Get some rest, tomorrow we'll be trying to get you to walk."

Raven gives a look as she moves up, her legs under her bottom she asks "Why would you want me to walk? I might run away."

Slade closes his eye, "Oh you could but I feel you won't. You know you can't outrun me, and your powers will not be enough to help you escape." Slade opens the door, "Get some sleep I need my own rest. I have to train tomorrow I'll bring you along if you promise to be good."

Raven glares angrily at him, "Oh, can I get a treat to?" Slade with an amused look stares in her eyes, she is caught in the stare, "Maybe… if you act really good I will." He closes the door behind his stare and she is stuck in a sort of trance. She shakes her head and moves onto the bed letting her arms lay loosely at her face. "What did he mean by treat…?" Raven worries over this and other things. Slade was not pushing back off her anymore. He was touching her at will, maybe she made him loose the boundaries from earlier. Raven fears the fact he is less discriminate about his actions. Raven also worries on the fact every time he touches her she seems to become some how, anticipant. She anticipates his touch becoming a roaming embrace or seductive caress. Raven worries, she has a serious fear she may be becoming attracted… to Slade…

…Titans Tower…

Cyborg sits with Beast Boy who both looks sourly to the ground. Starfire has retreated to her room, Robin paces in his own room. Beast Boy sighs, "I guess we blew it."

Cyborg looks over and shrugs, "Maybe… we just have to try harder."

Beast Boy nods then turns to the gamestation, "Well? You want to play?"

Cyborg sighs, "Not now…"

Beast Boy nods with a small smile turns to the walls and ceiling before asking "How about now?"

Cyborg has the controller and gamestation on, "Yeah! Why not?"

Robin leaves his room and passes Starfire's. He hears crying so he knocks, Starfire sniffles as she sees Robin she closes the door and bawls, "Starfire…" Robin rubs his neck, "I understand he had you under like… a kind of spell. Please come out."

Starfire opens the door with a sniffle before stepping out. She looks away and rubs her bare arm, "It was more than a spell Robin. I felt important, special. His gaze was uniquely empowering… something you used to give me."

Robin is confused, she looks up with her weak smiles, "Robin, at one time I meant a great deal to you. Recently however you seem more interested in Raven and the defeat of Slade. I wonder if they are some how similar, yet they are not. Please friend Robin have I done something to upset you?"

Robin gives a simple look of shock, "Starfire that's not the case." He brushes her hairs as he gives a grin, "You are my friend Star you always have been. No reason to get upset."

Starfire smiles, hugging Robin in an alien rib breaker hug he gags and gasps as she giggles happily, "Let us work together to return friend Raven once more to her home."

"Starfire…" Robin gasps, "Humans… were breathing…"

Starfire blushes as she drops the gasping Robin, "Forgive me! Please forgive me!"

Note: Another one down, not much better than the others. Well what do you think? Too much too soon? I have no more to really say, a hats off to the reviewers and readers, a surprise to see every time I look this story nearly has another review. Makes me so happy knowing you all like this so much. Please take a chance and read my other fics. Also, Infamous One, I read you are an Ex-Officer from your profile so allow me to say I don't have any real quarrels with the law enforcement merely a stretch in the prison scenes from chapter 2 (bows to Infamous One) I mean no disrespect to anyone less they gave me disrespect first, a rule I live by. Z. Brite, loving the story which only entices me to do my own Lemon fiction which you see my taste slightly focuses more on seduction than other methods, an attribute I myself hold quite high. To all other reviewers and readers, keep reading we have some more interesting moments to come.