Lonely Paths Come Together Two: Destiny

Chapter Eleven

Let's go back,

Back to the beginning,

Back to when the earth,

The sun,

The stars all aligned,

It was three in the morning when Night Wing went out on patrol. The air was bone chilling as he jumped from roof tops. The streets were silent; rain had come only hours before, leaving the city in a sort of darkened and depressed state.

Night Wing had left Raven to sleep, hoping that the nightmares would leave her for at least one night. She was in constant fear that Slade would come back, she had become attached to Night Wing and did not want to see him hurt, if Slade were to come back. Nightmares plagued her every night, which Night Wing could do almost nothing about, except reassure her time and time again that Slade had died years before.

Every time he promised that, he went out to Slade's abandoned cave that had once been occupied, every night, making sure Slade existed no more, and each night when there was no sign of Slade, he could be assured that Raven was safe another night.

Cause perfect,

Didn't feel so perfect,

Trying to fit a square into a circle,

Was no lie,

I defy,

Night Wing was once again going to the abandoned cave to check up. Ten minutes later he was at the cave entrance, that had been cleared away of all debris. He stopped running to examine the surroundings. Nothing had been changed since his previous encounter with the darkened cave. He walked through the cave scanning everything with his eyes, watching for any sign of activity.

He looked at the cracked mirror that had once showed information on Night Wing and Raven, pictures that had been taken and looked at over and over again. The only thing that showed now was Night Wing's reflection.

"Robin… it's been awhile." A haunting voice said from behind Night Wing. "Or should I call you Night Wing?"

Night Wing turned in a flash, only to see nothing.

"Slade."Night Wing called but got no reply, as he walked through broken debris littered all over the ground.

"Now, now Robin, you always were impatient, I didn't know you missed me so much."

Let the rain fall down,

And wake my dreams,

Let it wash away my sanity,

Cause I want to feel the thunder,

I want to scream,

Let the rain fall,

I'm coming clean, I'm coming clean,

"Hell would have to freeze over before I missed you." Night Wing retorted in a cold tone of voice.

Night Wing heard that all too familiar chuckle come from the ghost that was lurking around somewhere.

"It's been too long Robin, seven years correct? I must say you have grown into something different. I'm impressed." Slade said with his regular smooth and calm voice.

"Why have you come back? I saw you die."

"The mind can sometimes play cruel tricks on oneself Robin."

"So are you just some trick in my mind, just a nightmare that I'll wake up from?"

"No Robin, I am very real, I can assure you on that. Oh and Robin you shouldn't make promises to Raven that you can't keep, it might break her fragile heart."

I'm shedding,

Shedding every color,

Trying to find a pigment of truth,

Beneath my skin,

Night Wing's hands clutched at his side as he grinded his teeth together.

"I never excepted to see you so grown up Robin." Slade whispered behind Night Wing as he came up behind him, grabbing his shoulders. Night Wing reacted fast, spinning around and hitting nothing but air.

"Now that's not a nice thing to do Robin, you wouldn't want someone to get hurt now would you?"

"You're the only one that's going to get hurt Slade."

"Interesting threat Robin, I do hope you intend to keep it." Slade's voice faded out.

"Slade?" Night Wing said, jumping up on different objects, looking for Slade.

"Until next time Night Wing." Slade's said, a low chuckle sounding through out the cave, and then disappeared to nothing.

Cause different,

Doesn't feel so different,

And going out is better,

Then always staying in,

Feel the wind,

Night Wing stood in the same place for a couple minutes contemplating what to do next, his communicator started to buzz on his waist.

"Are you okay Robin?" Ravens voice asked through the communicator. The look on her face told Night Wing that she had just awoken, and she was concerned.

"I'm fine, I'm coming back now." Night Wing said and said his good-byes to her before walking out of the cave and into the night air.

Let's go back,

Back to the beginning.