When Two Become One

Part Three – And Together Again

It was another month after the Slade incident that Robin trusted himself enough to join the other Titans in their fight for justice. He just couldn't bring himself to admit that he could be so dangerous before, but the loss of control had opened his eyes severely. He'd always known that Raven's powers were controlled by emotions, but he'd never fully realized until then that the rule would be reversed when control was lost. The powers had taken control of his emotions then, with Raven as the only thing holding him back. He'd never known such a sadistic joy as he felt when he had Slade's neck in his grip. A feeling that scared him beyond anything he'd ever known, which only helped to fuel the dark energy.

When the team had returned home, Robin was in little shape to do anything, forcing Raven to temporarily become the controlling consciousness. It was odd, and Raven was made to ask Cyborg to carry the nearly limp body into Robin's room. Regrettably by asking this, the others decided that it would be best that they stay in the common room. So instead of the isolation that they both so dearly needed, their overprotective friends surrounded them. Unfortunately or fortunately, the combined hyper attentions of Beast Boy and Starfire finally gave Raven enough will power to move Robin's body to the sanctuary of his room. Drained in every way possible, and with Robin's consciousness already nearly asleep, Raven collapsed the drained body into the inviting bed.

They had barely left that bed since then, let alone the room. Raven continued to teach Robin control, as she practiced the art of controlling his body if need be. It had been two months that they were this "one being", and there was little hope of ever returning to normal. So with that dismal fate, they worked to make the best of it.

The other Titan's never saw their friends during this month of transition. They would leave meals at the door, only to find whatever was left and sometimes a note of news later. They worried, both for their friends, and themselves. With the news of the Titans' leader and arguably strongest warrior missing, more criminals came out of dark shadows of the city to cause trouble. At one point Starfire had gotten so desperate that she kicked in the door to Robin's room, only to find Raven's mirror lying on the bed.

It was a Thursday that the Titans were finally graced with the presence of their combined friends once more. It was late, and a heavy storm had dramatically lowered the crime level to almost nothing. It was movie night, and the three were getting ready the usual treats before it started.

'What are we watching?' came a calm and familiar voice, just as they were sitting down. Turning, they saw that though the voice was recognizable, the body was not, except to Starfire. Stronger, more lethal, and covered in black stood their changed friend. 'Call me Nightwing,' he commanded. With the icy blue emblem of a bird on his chest, and a new mask, he smirked.

The others rushed closer to admire his differences. Cyborg and Beast Boy marveled, as Starfire threw her arms around his neck. Nightwing returned the embrace empathetically, but cut it off rather quickly. He ran his hand through his slightly longer hair, the only sign he made of any discomfort about the encounter. But he let his missed friends gush, as they liked.

'So are you like, still two people in there?' Beast Boy asked somewhat timidly, surprising everyone for his perceptiveness.

'I don't know for how long, but yes,' Nightwing sighed heavily. The others could tell that their friends inside were worried, but accepting of their apparent fate.

'So what about looking for this sister of yours Raven?' Cyborg asked.

Nightwing only shook his head solemnly. 'Considering how many vast dimensions that she could be hiding in, there never really was any hope for that.'

It was then that their friends truly started to understand the bleakness of their friends' situation. Not for the words themselves, but for the lack of different speaking habits between their friends. If they were talking in "one voice", there was probably little to go before they were made into one psyche.

'No!' Starfire suddenly cried out with desperate determination. 'I will not loose my Robin! Friends, you were separate in the future!' she cried as she wrapped her arms around Nightwing's neck once again.

'It was you who said that the future could be changed, Starfire,' Nightwing pointed out as he pried her arms off of him once again. 'And I haven't been "your Robin" for some time now. I don't want to hurt you, but I've changed. Even if we somehow get changed back into two people, the "Robin" you know will be gone. I'm sorry,' Nightwing said sadly as he looked into the Tameranian's eyes.

It was later that night, when the rain cleared that the Titans went out for patrol. For the first few hours, they traveled as a group. Starfire and Beast Boy flew, as Cyborg drove the T-Car, and Nightwing ran from roof to roof. But as their friends' attentions were focused on spotting bad guys, Nightwing slipped away to head north.

Somehow the month before, Slade had gotten away with minor injury. So Nightwing had made it "his" personal mission to hunt him down this night. Checking all of the villain's usual haunts, the new hero was sure to cover his own tracks so that the others wouldn't follow him. Nightwing was not going to endanger his and Raven's friends, if he somehow lost control once again. But he would not give up this potentially last chance to get him. Nightwing had no idea if Slade would mean so much if he were to change, and never would he have so much power and determination as he had now.

It was hours before Nightwing found any sign of his adversary, in the form of the sorceress Jinx. She was hanging out at an all-night diner in the bad part of town, sipping on a drink at a booth alone. Knowing that she would not recognize him, he played it as if he were looking for a job when he approached her.

'Hear that you got connections,' he said casually as he boldly sat at her booth. 'I'm new in town, and am looking for some work.'

'Maybe,' she answered skeptically. 'But how do I know that I should trust you?'

'Maybe you shouldn't,' he said as he leaned forward to take her drink to sip from. 'But that's up to your boss.'

'I don't have a "boss",' Jinx said distastefully.

Nightwing just laughed casually as he took out a fresh pack of cigarettes and started to pack them. Then he took the plastic wrapping off, only to offer the first one to the pink haired girl, who gladly accepted. He then took one for himself, and started to search his hidden pockets for a lighter.

'Fuck, you got a light?' he asked with the cigarette sitting in his lips, inwardly grinning at Jinx's annoyed expression. 'Never mind, I found it,' he lit hers first, then his own.

'Look there are two names you gotta know to make it in this town,' Jinx finally said after taking a big drag. 'Brother Blood, who if you've got a place to stay and don't want anything long term, I would suggest avoiding,' she took another drag, apparently waiting for a response.

'Got a place,' Nightwing said absently as he blew smoke from his nose and flicked his cigarette over the ashtray.

'Then I would go to Slade; who's always looking for an apprentice, but good for quick jobs here and there.'

'So where do I find him?' he asked, seemingly paying more attention to his cigarette.

Jinx shrugged. 'Last I heard, he was at the old slaughter-house on the west-side.'

The two then ordered some food, Nightwing not wanting to seem questionable by leaving abruptly. Surprisingly they ate in peace, and with amusing conversation. Jinx had proceeded to warn him about the Teen Titans, insulting them the entire time. Nightwing was actually amused by her comments and played it off jovially, boasting that he "could take them".

When the meal was finished, Nightwing was amazed to see that Jinx paid for her food, and did so too. They then went out together, stopping quietly just outside the door. After a few moments, Nightwing said his "goodbye" and started to head east to not arouse suspicion.

'Listen,' Jinx said suddenly, making him turn his attention to her again. 'You be careful around Slade, he's a bit fucked up, and you seem just his type.'

Nightwing grinned arrogantly, 'thanks for the advice.' He then took another cigarette out and lit it, only to pass her the pack afterwards. Never did he find out how much of an impression he'd made on the sorceress, after he'd left.

It was nearly dawn, and Nightwing knew that his friends must have been wondering where the hell he was. But as both Robin and Raven, he was never one to be detoured by his friends. And he would not give up until he ended what Slade had started. With Raven's consent and support, the inner Robin was ready to take the step that Batman never did. This would be Slade's last sunrise.

Upon entering the old rundown building that Jinx had sent him to, he saw that she had been telling the truth. Facing away from him, but obviously knowledgeable to his entrance, was Slade.

'I've been expecting you Robin,' said the man. 'I imagine that you want to kill me, am I correct?'

Nightwing never bothered to answer, or even correct him about the name. Instead the hero slowly moved to stand beside his once mentor and current enemy. From afar, the picture looked like one of a father and son. But the thickness of the air around the two only served to collect the tense feelings of the two. Someone would die this morning.

Uncharacteristically, it was Slade that attacked first. He knew that his opponent had the powers of Raven, and that if he did not aim to kill first he would be dead. Using a knife, he tried to pierce the darkly covered breast, but was deflected. His only hope was using close-range combat against the dark witch's powers, but that meant he would have to deal with Robin's strengths. So with a desperation he never showed, Slade fought for his life.

The fighters never saw the appearance of two beings high above them, but the Raven inside Nightwing sensed them. One was a woman that looked only a few years older than Raven was, her looked much like her also. And the other was Ghost who was bound by a magic leash that the other held. 'So I've finally found you little sister,' observed the newcomer.

'Can't you see that I'm busy?' Nightwing growled as he dodged a blow from Slade.

'This can't wait, it may be too late already,' answered the woman watching the two fight. 'Raven, you are sharing thoughts with the boy. You know that that is a sign of loosing one's self.'

Nightwing knew that everything that the woman had just said was true, but he was too lost in his mental rant of killing Slade. He'd finally cornered the masked man, using only his martial arts, and he readied to end it. The word "die" repeated in his thoughts, with both the voices of Robin and Raven saying it in unison. He was about to strike when the woman spoke again.

'This is for the best Raven, consider it an early Christmas present,' she said as the pulled on the leash around Ghost. Then, with great depravity, Ghost obeyed. And the slaughterhouse became lit with a bright white light.

'Where the hell have you been man?' Cyborg yelled. He had been surprised when he found Nightwing in the kitchen late in the morning. The others were still undoubtedly asleep from the late night, but he'd yet to recharge. Instead opting to wait for his changed friend for as long as he could. Part of him didn't like the new Nightwing, but that was probably was because he represented the nearing spiritual death of his friends. Plus, the new dark hero seemed to have made of all of Robin and Raven's bad points, making him hard to like. But out of loyalty, Cyborg had promised himself that he would make friends with him anyway.

Nightwing ignore his friend, as he poured a cup of hot tea. He then left the common room, heading to his own with an irate Cyborg on his heals. He only partly heard the complaints of his larger friend about his behavior, and ignored them anyways.

Cyborg was amazed at Nightwing's lack of response, even to him. So when the other left the common room, he followed. He hated sounding like a bitch, but he couldn't help but tell off the uncaring leader. He also fully intended to follow Nightwing into his room, to continue his banter without disturbing the others. But when the electric door opened, he was stopped short when he saw a woman in his teammate's bed. 'Raven,' he whispered in reverent surprise. He had wanted a better look, but the door shut and locked before he could move.

Richard Grayson sat gently on his bed, and looked at the woman who slept soundly within. Seeing her gave him so much joy, not just because they were free, but also because he'd missed her. When they'd shared a body, he now realized that they had been worlds away. Now he was able to brush a misplaced hair back behind her ear, which he treasured more than anything.

Raven awoke at the touch of her friend and saw that he held a cup in his hand. She let him support her entropy-ridden body so that she could take a sip, reveling in the experience that she'd missed so much.

When Raven was finished, Richard laid her back down softly and proceeded to change into a pair of boxers. He then crawled into his bed, and pulled her soft body against his. He'd missed this the most, being able to hold her warm body as he slept.

'I've missed this too Richard,' Raven said as she read his thoughts. With all of their experiences, they now knew everything about the other, making it easy to do so. She then used was little physical energy she had to gently kiss his collar.

Robin kissed the top of Raven's head in response to her kiss. Part of him wished to do more, but he would not take advantage of her weakened state… too much.

'So you got to see me naked,' he grinned evilly. 'When's my turn?'

End Part 3.