Lonely Paths Come Together Two: Destiny

Chapter Sixteen

I could be mean,

I could be angry,

You know I could be just like you,

Raven woke to an empty bed. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in Night Wing's arms comfortably. Raven knew that he sometimes got up early, so she was not concerned. She got up and went to the shower. She turned the hot water on and brushed her teeth while it warmed up.

Fifteen minutes later, she was cleaned and dressed. She went in search for Night Wing. She searched every room and all the computer screens to see if he was patrolling the city. She had no luck in finding him. She found his bike missing as well and tried to locate it with the radar. She picked up the small blue dot and found it to be at the docks.

"Why would he be there?" She thought to herself. She didn't wait to do anything, she left automatically. She flew over the buildings watching for any activity that might give her any hint as to what Night Wing was doing. She flew to the docks and landed as soon as she saw his blue and black bike. It was parked next to an old warehouse.

Raven cautiously went in, looking around for anything out of place. Everything seemed to be in order. Nothing looked damaged and there was no sign that there had been a fight. Something caught her eye in the middle of the large room, so she walked there. She looked down and saw herself. It was a small picture of herself that she had taken for Night Wing, so that he could carry it with him, when she was not around.

I could be fake,

I could be stupid,

You know I could be just like you,

"Are you here Robin?" She called but got no reply, just the echo of her own voice. She retrieved the picture from the ground and looked at it. She knew that he had been here but was here no longer. Where he went she had no idea, and this worried her.

Slade's Lair

"Isn't it sweet Robin? My little bird came to check up on you. So sad that she won't be able to find you."

"Quit calling me that, my name is Night Wing."

"Touché Robin, no need to get worked up over such a small matter."

Slade had placed electric wrist bands securely around both of his wrists. In the occurrence that Night Wing was to disobey or not please Slade, he would get a large shock that would go through his body. Not like he would of course, since Slade still had control over Raven. Night Wing was still in his suit, thankfully. But that would change soon, according to Slade that is. Night Wing remained calm in the situation although he was seething on the inside for how Slade had manipulated Raven and him so well.

Night Wing could now see Raven bending over to retrieve the picture that Slade had most likely taken from his belt and left on the ground for her to find.

"Don't look so glum Robin, as long as you obey me, she will be fine."

You thought you were standing beside me,

You were only in my way,

You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you,

"You wish for me to trust you?"

The reply was a low chuckle from Slade. "That is another thing that we have in common…no trust."

"I am nothing like you Slade, you hurt people, I save them."

Slade turned from the screen to look at Night Wing. Night Wing could just imagine the smile that was on his face right about now, with what he just stated.

"You may think that we have nothing in common, but soon Robin, soon, you will see that we are so much more the same, than you think."

Night Wing did not reply, he was still trying to figure Slade out. He had no idea where he was going in that insane mind of his.

"Why do you do this Slade? Why do you hurt people?"

Slade placed his hand on his chin, in a gesture of thinking, "Because I can, that's why."

"That's it? That's the only reason you have?"

I could be cold,

I could be ruthless,

You know I could be just like you,

"Also because I like it, when I want something I take it. It's as simple as that Robin."

"Nothing is that simple." Night Wing murmured under his breath. Night Wing turned his eyes to the screen and saw Raven heading out of the warehouse.

"Your beliefs are false Robin, some part of you knows that I am right. You know that you are just like me. You are cold and ruthless, you wish to hurt people. It is only on a whim that you decided to take Raven in. You took Raven in for her powers, you wanted them for yourself as I do. Do not deny that fact."

"You've deluded your thinking Slade, in believing that I am like you. You are pathetic Slade." For this retort, Night Wing was back handed across the face. His head was sent backwards but he did not fall down.

"Do not back talk me boy."

"I see you can't accept the truth Slade." Night Wing knew that he was pushing it with his words, but for some reason he could not stop. He built up the anger and hatred for so long, he could not hold it back any longer. "You say all these things, but you are nothing. You are weak and despicable. You are nothing but dirt Slade." As the words left his mouth, he was hit backwards into a wall, knocking the breath from him. He landed on his hands and knees, somewhat kneeling before Slade.

I could be weak,

I could be senseless,

You know I could be just like you,

"That tongue of yours is going to get your girl friend killed."

Night Wing growled under his breath, realizing that Slade's words were true.

"I believe its time for your first lesson boy." Slade said, coming over to where Night Wing was getting up. Slade grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head back, to face him. "When I said that you were mine, I meant it in every way Robin."

Slade slammed Night Wing's head back against the wall rendering him unconscious. He let him now slide to his back, blood smearing on the wall behind him. Slade dragged Night Wing to a steel room, which was empty. He threw him in and came in himself. He took a knife from one of his pouches and proceeded to cut Night Wing's suit open. He kept his mask on for the moment, fore he wanted to see the look on his face when he removed it.

On my own,

Cause I can't take liven with you,

I'm alone,

So I won't turn out like you want me to,

Slade ripped the suit off and took them out of the room, burning them. He left Night Wing with nothing but his black boxers and mask on. Slade looked down at Night Wing's body and let his eyes travel over the muscle that now defined the man that once had been a boy. Night Wing had been right, the name Robin no longer fit him. He was not that boy that he once was, no he was now a treasure that Slade would enjoy breaking.

Slade smirked behind the mask, at what he would do the "boy" tomorrow. For now he would have to get Night Wing's new suit ready. The suit would show who was the master in this game.

I could be mean,

I could be angry,

You know I could be just like you.