"That's not me. I'm not a hero. I'm not out to save the world. I'm just an ordinary girl who has a Geometry test next period and I haven't studied."
The bell rang, and students flooded the hallways, filling them with the bustle of between periods. In that instant, Beastboy lost sight of Terra for an instant... and she vanished. And he knew deep down, this time, he couldn't go after her again. She was right. Whoever she was... she wasn't Terra. Not the Terra he knew, at least. That girl was gone. Completely gone now.
It hurt to let go.
Reluctantly, the green boy reached down and flipped open his Titan communicator.
"Beastboy to Robin... I'm on my way. Over."
And with that, he silently bid Terra, wherever she was, farewell, and thanked the blonde girl, whoever she was, for showing him the light. And he turned, and broke into a run. His friends needed him. It was time to be a hero. He didn't stop. And he didn't look back.
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
>
Across the street, two unremarkable individuals watched as a green boy in a spandex costume burst out of the nearby Murukami High School and transformed into a great green bird, giving a cry as he swooped up and into the sky, startling students and passerby alike. Neither of them so much as batted an eye, as if used to such unusual happenings on a daily basis.
"No sign of Tara," remarked Wintergreen, folding his newspaper up, resting on the hood of the car lightly.
Slade nodded, in his crisp business suit and effectively disguised, resting against the side of the car, arms folded across his chest. "I think we can take this as a good sign."
Wintergreen folded up the paper and plucked up his hat from where it rested on the hood, propping it onto his head as he opened the door and slipped inside, tossing his paper onto the passengers side seat. A casual glance in the rearview mirror told him that his employee and comrade was seated behind him, strapped in (as if he needed something so mundane as a seatbelt). A few moments later, they were on their way. After all, it was barely mid-day, Tara would have a good few more hours before she was free of school.
"What now sir?"
"Now that the Titans should not longer be concerned with Tara, she can be left alone. She needs a bit more time," he replied thoughtfully, stroking his bearded chin. "To proceed now is to risk breaking her again."
"Can't have that now, can we?" asked Wintergreen lightly.
Slade's one eye narrowed dangerously. "What does that mean?"
"Sir, you've been keeping the truth from her... again."
"In her best interest."
"And you said that before sir... right before what happened last time. Don't you think this time we could try something a little different?"
Slade conceded he had a point. "What do you suggest?"
"Tell her the truth. Let her decide what's in her own best interest."
"Not yet. She's still shaken up from Beastboy's interference. If she found out now, she'd presume I'd been lying to her from the start. No... that I had worked to manipulate her..."
"... which you have been doing."
Wintergreen altered the course of the car, driving them down a seldom used alleyway, and shut down the engines, shifting in his seat so he could properly look back at his former comrade, look him straight in the eye. Over the years, Slade had done a lot of bad things... so had Wintergreen. They both had lots of dark spots on their souls, lots of stains and sins and darkness that would scare most any normal people who knew them. But Wintergreen had always prided himself on being the more moral of the two. Keeping Slade reined in whenever he started to stray too far.
"What're you planning, Slade? To make her your Apprentice again?"
"No. I told you that already."
"You told me you planned to educate her and get her back into a semblance of a normal life to begin with, then show her who she used to be. Why? Why give her a normal life and then take it away by showing her she's a metahuman."
"You suggest I lie to her? You're not being consistent, old friend."
"I am concerned for Tara's best interests."
"As am I."
"Then what are you doing?"
Slade sighed heavily, reaching up to run a hand through his hair, obviously holding back any number of curses or exclamations that he had planned to yell back at him. Mind your own business. Do as you're told. Don't tell me how to handle this situation. But they weren't in the military anymore. They were friends... or at least as close to being friends as men like either of them got.
"I am repaying a debt," Slade said at last. "Nothing more. Now... drive, Wintergreen."
Recognizing the end of a conversation, the older man nodded, and resumed their current course towards the Wilson estate on the edge of town. Then he'd head back to pick up Tara. He felt mildly relieved... Slade was a man who did not like to have debts. But whenever he did earn one, he always repaid it. Slade would conquer death itself, unable to rest until he'd finish his business in this world. Literally, it seemed.
And if that had meant revenge against Terra for killing him, he'd have done it ages ago.
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
>
Located far on the outskirts of Jump City, in an abandoned steel mill, a frustrated cry split the air, and a fist clenched in anger slammed down hard on a seemingly abandoned crate, smashing it to pieces.
"Damnit, we lost him again!" grumbled Cyborg.
"Maybe we should count our blessings," remarked Raven casually. "That turning-into-fire move could've barbecued us if it hadn't decided to run." Idly, she reached down and patted the bottom of her cloak, which was smoking. Some of those attacks had been dangerously close.
"We have to find it's weak point," stated Robin, idly pondering if such a creature had one. Able to mimic it's surroundings, down to base elements like fire, would be difficult to destroy. It could adapt to anything they threw at it. "Meantime we need to track it down again."
"Follow the path of destruction seems to work pretty well," Raven replied.
A bird's cry overhead drew their attention, and as they watched, a green avian swooped down low through a nearby window, transformed a safe distance up, and dropped down the remaining few feet as a green-skinned boy.
Robin was about to sternly ask where in hades Beastboy had been, but one look at the boy's features told him everything he needed to know. Most of the others could see it as well. Beastboy looked... well, like he'd morphed into a dog and been kicked around a bit. He had a very forlorn expression.
"What happened?" asked Robin, in lieu of his other question.
"... I..."
"Yes?" They all crowded around, eager to hear what Beastboy had to say.
"... it wasn't Terra. I met the girl I saw but... it's not her. Terra's... gone."
A year or so ago, the Titans had felt the terrible loss of losing one of their own in battle, when Terra had sacrificed her life to defeat Slade and save the city. Some more than others, Beastboy most prominently among them, of course, and Raven at the other end of the spectrum. But it was impossible not to be touched by her sacrifice, no matter how much she had hurt you. Now, old wounds had been reopened, and their hopes dashed. Terra was gone.
Ever-practical Boy Wonder brought them back to reality.
"We need to find this thing before it does anymore damage... Beastboy, can you get it's scent?"
"Sure thing!"
Led on by a green bloodhound, the Titans proceeded after their quarry, determined to bring it down whatever the cost. They did not speak any more about Terra. All had already been said.
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
>
A lifetime of mercenary feats could be quite rewarding if you were smart enough in how you invested your money. And in the case of Slade, who was very smart indeed, this could lead to quite a substantial fortune. One that could afford him both the public image of a retired but doing-well military officer, as well as fund his "other" identity with his fortress, robotic armies, and weapons. Right now, he was content to enjoy the former, and since he had so little interest in the world, he'd settled onto a nice little estate on the edge of Jump City, a two-story building, furnished with the luxury money could buy (in case someone dropped by to check on him).
Slade was quietly enjoying the evening news (keeping updated on current events) when the door suddenly slammed open. He'd heard footsteps approaching before, recognized the pattern as Tara's, and dismissed it, but this caught him by surprise, and he started.
"Tara? What is it?"
"Nothing," she replied curtly, storming past him. "I just wanted to see the garden… it relaxes me."
Slade held out an arm, blocking her path, and frowned at that. "I don't care for your tone."
"I'm just… so sick of this! I don't care who I was, who… I… I… damnit I don't want to remember! I'm happy now… aren't I? Not knowing?"
"Know what?" he asked evenly, outwardly calm, inwardly concerned. This was not the ideal time. He had to proceed delicately. Tara was furious, and if she was anything like her old self, that meant she was dangerous. Terra had never been more powerful than when rage had consumed her.
"How you know me… how -do- you know me, anyway? Why have you done all this for me when we're virtually strangers?"
"I told you," he replied softly. "I was monitoring you a short while before we met, and I recognized your talent..."
"Then who are you! And who am I? And why do you and... and this...!" she rummaged around in her pocket, pulling out the blue butterfly hairpiece. "Why does this all seem so familiar! Who am I, damnit!"
"Calm down, Tara..." he said. "You are allowing anger to get the better of you."
"Damn right I am! Every since Beastboy showed up those memories are just swarming around my mind like angry hornets, and I want to know why! I can't concentrate anymore... my head hurts too much! I failed that geometry test because I spent time trying to remember who I am instead of writing down my name! Arrrgh!"
Suddenly, a shudder rippled through the house. Tara, standing, nearly lost her balance, and Slade quickly slipped to his feet, eye open wide.
His worst fears realized, he first thought that had been Tara's doing. But another shudder then rippled through the house, and she looked just as surprised. And afraid. This wasn't her doing. Besides, it didn't feel much like an earthquake. Someone... someone big... was pounding on the wall.
"What...?"
The wall exploded outwards, cutting her off and knocking both off the occupants of the house down onto the ground. Shards of wood and stone went flying everywhere as the smoke cleared and Slade beheld their intruder, giving an unaudible gasp.
It couldn't be.
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
>
Author's Notes:
Dun-dun-dununununun. And the plot thickens, as they say. Before anyone comments on Terra/Tara's seemingly erratic behavior, one key thing you should remember: she's a teenager. Teenagers are notorious for being unpredictable and suffering from rapid mood swings. And Terra's have always been worse than most.
Guardian of Azerath: Soon enough.
TeenTitans4ever: Where does it say she was fifteen? I always theorized it was closer to thirteen or so. But it isn't really vital, the character ages.
Todd fan: It's called Trouble in Tokyo, and we have been promised karaoke and ninjas, not necessarily at the same time.
Jimmy the Gothic Egg: I tend to bring out the sympathetic side of characters, even the most villainous like Slade or Terra. Nobody just becomes evil one day, after all.
ViciousAssassin: Depends on what a villain is. Slade certainly is no hero, and he's certainly not out of the game... not yet at least.
Comet-hime: A decision based on what we saw of Tara in 'Things Change,' a school with such advanced subjects for young people and school uniforms indicate money. Tara would need a sponsor. Slade has (or can easily acquire) money. And when she was reading her tombstone it was in the dark, and we can presume the lettering has eroded over time anyway.
Rocky-White Wolf of Curses: Most fanfiction writers would be flattered to hear such a comment regarding their favorite shows. I know I am. Oh, if I'd written Teen Titans sixth season, there'd be so much fun. I think I'd go with a Tartarus arc. That'd be fun.
ELIE101: Thanks for your reviews. The rest of the Titans will join the story shortly, as well a likely unexpected element of danger.
SxStrngSamurai13: Comic Slade eventually stepped away from the darkness and became somewhat decent person around his real daughter, Rose. I'm portraying a similar relationship here.
