Tangled

Chapter One-Argument

"You can't avoid talking about it forever, you know," Bruce remarked quietly one night soon after Rachel began her senior year at Gotham High.

There had been a bit of tension between the two of them since Rachel had started dating Terry. Bruce didn't approve of them seeing each other.

"Has it occurred to you that if I wanted to talk about it I would? I love Terry, Bruce. You can't stop me from loving him. It's been a really long day for me and I have homework. Can I go now?"

"Finish the homework and get to bed," he grumbled.

"Fine," Rachel snapped.

She went upstairs, but didn't go to her room. Instead, she took a shower, dressed for bed, found Belle, who was playing with an old sock, and settled down in her bed.

'He thinks he can tell me who to date. Please. If he knows so much about dating, how come the last Mrs. Wayne was his mother?'

Of course, Rachel would never mention this to Bruce. She loved him as a grandfather and he had taken her in. He would never show it, but he would be very hurt if some similar statement was said to his face.

Rachel was pulled out of her thought by the ringing of her bedroom phone. (A/N The phones in the future were video phones, right?) It was Terry.

"Hi, Rach. You have another fight with Bruce?" he asked, concerned by the look on her face.

"Yeah. He wants to talk to me and I just know he'll tell me that I can't see you anymore."

"I hate it when people try to tell other people who they can be with," Terry said angrily.

"Me, too. I suspect he thinks we're too young to be going around saying 'I love you.'

My parents were barely older than we are when they got married."

"Don't worry. I won't let anyone come between us," Terry promised.

"I love you, Terry."

"I love you, too, Rach."

At around two a.m., Rachel woke, courtesy of the flashing Batsingnal outside her window.

The police force, she noticed, had added one with the Firewing emblem as well, though it was slightly smaller.

She rolled out of bed and slipped into the Firewing uniform, which was red with a black bird on the chest, similar to the Nightwing insignia. Her mask too, was similar to the one her father had worn. (A/N I'm going by the Teen Titans version of Nightwing, not the comics, which is slightly different.)

She opened the door that led to her balcony and flew off, following the signal to downtown Gotham.

Terry arrived just as Rachel did.

"Who's the criminal this time?" he asked sleepily.

"I have no clue. Whoever it is, he is now fully on my bad side."

Then a shadowy figure came out of nowhere. For a split second, Rachel saw his face. She'd recognize it anywhere.

Terry noticed her eyes narrow behind her mask.

"Batbo and Birdbrain. Or should I say…Rachel? How very like your father you are, Rachel. Your mother's beauty and powers, perhaps, but otherwise just like your dear old dad."

"You know him?"

"He's the reason my father is dead," Rachel snarled.

"Slade?" Terry queried.

"Actually, Batbo, it's Deathstroke. But I was formerly known as Slade, yes."

"Why are we just standing around? I didn't break out of jail just to see your pretty face, Rachel. I came to see how well your father has trained you."

He threw a punch towards her.

"Look out!" Terry shouted, pushing her out of the way of the powerful-looking blow. "Are you OK?"
Rachel nodded. "I'll be fine."

She shot straight up and nailed Slade with several starbolts.

After uprighting himself, Slade said, "I have really enjoyed spending time with the two of you. We must do this again sometime."

He ran off in the direction he'd come from, turned suddenly, and shot Rachel with a stunner.

Knocked unconscious, she fell from the sky, but was quickly caught by Terry.

Even though she was unnaturally pale, Terry couldn't help but think she was completely gorgeous. Granted, she was his girlfriend, but she was pretty all the same.

Carrying her to the car, he set her down in the backseat and looked at his watch. 2:59.

"I've got to get you home. Hopefully Bruce won't blame me for this."

"What happened?" Bruce demanded sharply, seeing Terry exit the cave, carrying a limp Rachel.

"She got stunned," Terry answered shortly.

"By who?"

"Her father's nemesis."

"Slade?"

"Yeah, him. I've got to bring her upstairs."

"Just make sure you come back down."

"I will," Terry mumbled.

He brought her upstairs, careful not to jostle his precious cargo. Terry laid her down on her bed, found a washcloth in her bathroom, dampened it, and pressed it to her forehead gently.

"Terry?" she asked groggily.

"How do you feel? Do you even remember what happened?"

"Slade…stunned me."

"OK, no memory loss. Don't go to school today. I mean that. Just rest and you'll be just fine."

"But-"

"Stay home," he ordered. I'll come by after school. Goodnight."

He leaned down and kissed her gently. "Love you."

"I love you, too."

"Promise you won't go to school later."

"I promise, alright? Go home; you need sleep."

"I'm on my way. I'll come by later."

September 19

Slade isn't gone. He's calling himself Deathstroke, but he's Slade. I will make him pay for killing my father.

Rachel

Well…looks like she's a bit angry, don't you think? What's going to happen next? Guess you'll have to wait and see…R&R!

-iluvrobbie