"Just leave the mask off!" Raven said, frustrated.
"But it's like a habit…a comfort," Slade complained.
"I have my lack of comfort too. You think this is comfortable? Being in Titan's Tower with you and Rhiannon? It's quite nerve-racking for me."
"But they already know what your faces look like."
"So?"
"I don't--"
"Listen. Either you stay locked up in this room until I decide to leave, or you come down with a forced smile on your face. Your choice. All I know is I'm going down for breakfast. Probably another fit over tofu eggs and who gets to make the waffles," Raven sighed, "you coming?"
Slade looked down at the orange and black mask that hid his face for so long. He had grown accustom to wearing it, and it felt apart of his being. Maybe this was the time for the world to know the Slade Wilson that was dormant for so long.
-xXx
"I wonder what they are doing up there," Changeling comically asked, trying to lighten up the mood. The faces of Nightwing, Starfire, and Cyborg all shriveled up in disgust, and continued eating their breakfast.
"I would assume what any normal married couples do when the arise from their morning slumber," Starfire stated.
"But Star, they aren't normal," Nightwing pointed out.
"Agreed," Cyborg chimed in.
"Dude, we aren't acknowledging the fact that he's there remember?" Changeling squeaked.
"Way to make it obvious," Cyborg remarked.
"I have talk to Nightwing about it, and he is truly sorry. It has nothing to do with Raven, it was just Slade, and he didn't trust him," Starfire said defending her husband.
"But all that lack of trust ruined Raven!" Changeling pointed out hastily.
"Just dr--"
"He is sorry!"
"Sorry isn't good enough for something like this! Not only did he change Raven and Slade's life, he changed Rhiannon's!"
"Guys settle d--" Nightwing tried to say, but the two were to busy feuding.
"Yes, he was wrong and he carried the burden for sixteen years. Isn't that enough punishment?"
"Drop it!" Nightwing yelled, and quickly got up from his spot at the counter, "It happened and I can't change anything! But by bickering about it is only going to make it worse and effect or future, okay?" Nightwing left the main room, and headed to his own to try and control his bubbling anger.
Starfire held a hand over her mouth, as salty tears caressed her face as they headed for the floor.
"This team is falling apart, isn't it?" she sobbed.
"No, it's just going through a rough time. Things will get be--" Cyborg said, trying to sooth his crying friend.
"They will not! Things will never get better! This scar will never heal, and it will ruin this team!" Star wept.
"Star, it isn't all Nightwing's fault that this is happening. It is Slade too, and he had every right to question him. But no one would ever think he would go to that…extreme," Changeling said.
"Don't worry, Changeling and I will make sure that nothing like that happens anyway," Cyborg proposed. Starfire let another overflow of water leak from her eyes, and she got up and headed to catch Nightwing and talk to him.
"I hate to say this, but maybe she is right. The Titans will be no more…," Cyborg sighed.
-xXx
"Oh why did Slade have to capture her, and then let Rhiannon come alive so Nightwing could take her? Why?" Starfire said aloud, rounding the corner to where Raven's room was, "Maybe it is our fault, for not keeping a closer eye on his obsessive nature? Maybe there is no one else to blame but, fate?" Star was now standing in front of Raven's door, and was immensely curious to what was going on inside, and placed an ear to the door.
-xXx
"Am I coming? Of course…not…maybe?" Slade stammered.
"Make up your mind, already. I'm getting really hungry!" Raven complained.
"Wait…shush, someone is at the door," Slade said, noticing the light coming in the bottom crack of the doorway had changed.
"Peo--" Raven started to say, but not to long before he clasped a hand over her mouth.
-xXx
Starfire heard his deep voice, and then heard silence, and that is what frightened her, and she jumped from the doorway, and stood in the middle of the hallway as if dumbfounded.
-xXx
"Great, now you scared what was ever there away. Nice going," Slade said, almost aggravated.
"You seem more sarcastic, and you only get this way when the team is in your presence. Act naturally, I'm sure they will start to like you."
"They will only like me when I'm dead, and that is not happening."
"Yet…." Raven grabbed Slade's forearm, and he willingly let her lead him out of the door.
-xXx
'Oh no, the door is opening. I totally blew my cover! …whoa, who's that?' Starfire thought to herself.
-xXx
As the door opened Slade looked around, still very uneasy about the unmasking. It officially ended his reign of being the criminal that he was so excellent at . To his surprise, and hatred, Starfire was standing there, looking at him, her face seemed to being stained from tears. But her eyes, they were the opposite of her face. For they were bright and excited, as if she had just met someone famous, which she had.
"Raven…is that…," Starfire said, but cut herself short and grabbed Raven and ran into Raven's room and closed the door. The reaction was completely odd to the way he thought she would have reacted.
-xXx
"Please do not tell me that is Slade!" Starfire squealed.
"Why not?" Raven inquired.
"Because he is to handsome to be what he is!" Raven became wide-eyed at the response, and smirked and began to rub it in.
"Yes, he is handsome. Sexy, even."
"Now I can see why you wanted to leave the Titans," Starfire smiled.
"Star! Keep your hands off my husband and be loyal to your own! This is definitely not the reaction I was expecting, even thought I had no expectations. But I do know that it wasn't anything like this," Raven said, putting one hand on her hip and one on her head.
"So he is going down to the main room to meet the rest of them? Oh I shall retrieve Nightwing! We will meet down in the main room in two minutes, okay?" Starfire said, heading out of the door.
"Sure, why not. Just as long as I get breakfast, everything will be fine," Raven muttered to herself.
-xXx
'What kind of reaction was that!' Slade pondered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief, 'was she surprised that I'm human? I'm to smart to be a machine.' Being nervous was below him, he had learned to discard emotions whenever they occurred, and it was hard to all of a sudden bring the natural feeling back. Besides, he had something to say to Raven that would affect their relationship heavily, no doubt. And for that reason, he didn't want to tell her.
The door slid open and revealed a smiling Starfire and a look of 'oh-my-god' plastered on her face. The bubbly and a little to overjoyed woman glided to her destination after a second or two of staring and a shove from Raven.
"I assume she's fascinated by me," Slade sighed.
"Yah think? I mean, I really didn't get that assumption at all," Raven joked, "despite my sarcasm we are going down in two minutes. So, we wait in my room."
"I feel like a prisoner."
"Serves you right after what you did to me."
"Now what would have happened if I hadn't?" Slade questioned.
"I would probably still be stuck listening to Changeling's corny jokes, and wishing for something better. Little would I know that it was the team's worst enemy that would make my life better," Raven smirked. Slade stroked his hand through her hair, and a large grin was spread across his face.
"Life is full of surprises," he said, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Come on, let's go show Nightwing why Starfire is in a dreamy state."
-xXx
"So he is coming down, unmasked?" Nightwing asked, a little excited.
"Yes," Starfire said with a grin on her face that literally was from ear to ear.
"Why doesn't he just leave with Raven and Rhiannon masked? That sounds more logical."
"Maybe."
"Why aren't you talking to me? Are you still mad?"
"No," Starfire said, turning around to face him the smile across her face.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Oh, shush. Just let's go tell Cyborg and Changeling and wait patiently."
-xXx
"Are you ready?" Raven asked, reaching the door to the main room.
"Who is ready to be reviled to their enemies?" Slade answered.
"They are not your enemies! Well, at least not anymore they aren't. Why are you so nervous?"
"Because the last time I let my personal life interfere with my work, I got my eye shot out!" Slade said, while pointing to the eye patch.
"Well, I guess I would be a little nervous then too. But this is the end of your "work", so no worries."
Slade noticed someone standing behind him and turned around, it was Rhiannon.
"Hey…," she softly said.
"What's the matter?" Raven concernedly asked.
"I'm just upset still, that's all. I'm afraid if I go in there and see Nightwing…."
"Oh, I would too, but I can't. Raven won't let me though," Slade teased. Rhiannon smirked at the comment.
"So, what are you guys talking about, and Slade where's your mask?" she asked.
"First of all, it's "dad" to you, and secondly your mother is making me reveal myself."
"I'm not making you do anything I'm just--"
"Strongly and forcefully suggesting I take it off."
"I'm sorry for not calling you "dad" Dad, but it's going to take time getting used to that. And I'll be waiting in the main room for this scene. Oh, this is going to be hilarious," Rhiannon said with a smile as she walked through the doors.
-xXx
"Why is she smiling so big?" Cyborg asked Changeling quietly.
"I don't know. Hey Star, why are you smiling so big?" Changeling asked. Cyborg slapped a hand on his forehead.
"Because I have a surprise for you," Star bluntly said.
"I wonder what it could be," Changeling pondered.
"I guess we will find out," Cyborg commented.
"Yes, and it is a wonderful surprise."
"I haven't seen her smiling this much since she lost her virginity to Robin…or was it Nightwing?" Changeling whispered to Cyborg.
"Yeah…hey Star, where is Raven?" Cyborg asked.
"She is coming, do not fret."
The door opened and the team saw Rhiannon walk through.
"Good morning," she said, trying to keep at least a smirk on her face. No one responded, but they acknowledged her presence.
"Where's Raven?" Changeling asked Rhiannon.
"She's coming," Rhiannon answered with a smile.
"Why is every female smiling so big?" Changeling asked with curiosity.
"I don't want to know anymore," Cyborg sighed.
-xXx
"Hilarious?" Slade questioned, "why hilarious?"
"Because you are being a baby about this. Just walk in and be yourself, even if it is arrogant," Raven commented with an evil smirk on her face.
Raven walked through the doors, and he was right behind her, secretly regretting this.
-xXx
The rest of the team looked up as they saw Raven walk through the door, with a tall shadow looming behind her. When the silhouette came into the light of the room, the team saw a face that they had never encountered before. They all stared at him with wary eyes, making sure that they were safe in the confines of their own tower.
"No scared face, no distortions of any kind…. He's just--" Changeling noted.
"Human? I know it's hard for you to process information, but it's true. I'm just as human as you," Slade attacked bitterly.
"I wasn't going to say human," Changeling remarked. Slade cocked his head and raised his eyebrow in confusion and curiosity. "I was going to say old." A grin stretched across Changeling's face that Slade watched grow, and a flame of hatred grew within him.
"Old, did you say? I will be this "old" until the day you die, since I have stopped aging. I will watch your family tree die because your heart is still set on Raven. She only put up with your crap because she was still hurt."
"From what you said!"
"From what I said? It was from what your shitty fuck of a teammate over there did. Don't ever think that I would do that to her," Slade said, a strong grip on Changeling's throat.
"Slade, stop!" Raven screeched. He looked up, and let loose his constricting grip around his throat.
"Now if he was strangling Nightwing, than that would be a different story. At least in my book," Rhiannon snickered.
"Rhiannon," her mother scolded with a harsh tone. Raven walked to the couch and Slade followed eyeing closely Nightwing, but Changeling in particular. "Let's just try and talk civilized to each other?" Raven begged.
"So time hasn't worn you down?" Nightwing asked Slade.
"It has only made me stronger," Slade responded.
"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger," Cyborg quoted.
"Precisely," Slade nodded, agreeing.
"Well, since all of our "family" is finally together in one room, Nightwing and I have something to share," Starfire said with a smile.
"I'd rather not tell them now," Nightwing said, squeezing her hand.
"Why not? It is joyous news, and everyone should know."
"I don't want everyone in here to know." Slade could feel the glare of Nightwing's eyes behind the wonder's mask, and returned the gesture.
"Yes, Nightwing, everyone should know. Even if you are afraid to tell some people, because you don't know what crazy stunts they will pull," Raven glared at Slade, trying to figure out what he was getting at.
"How did you…," Starfire started saying.
"Know? How did I know that you are pregnant? Well, for one it's news from you and Nightwing, and only that kind of new could be from the two of you. And Nightwing is being very secretive and nervous. In ways he as every right to be, but I, unlike him, would never do what he did to me." Raven stared blankly at Starfire, wondering why she didn't tell her sooner. But she figured that she planned to tell everyone.
"Congratulations, Starfire!" Raven said happily.
"Thank you dear friend Raven," Starfire said sincerely.
"I'm sorry Slade, but I just assumed --"
"Never assume, Nightwing. For you will make an ass out of you and me. And quite frankly, you have made a huge ass out of yourself. So, I guess I am pleased," Slade arrogantly said.
"Oh will you just shut up!" Raven barked, "you two bicker as if you are an old married couple! This isn't working, and I've decided it's time to go home."
"Finally," Slade hissed.
"Rhiannon let's go pack your stuff. Or better yet, help me pack my stuff," Raven said, making a swift haste towards the door.
"What about Dad?" Rhiannon asked.
"He can pain another few minutes with them."
-xXx
"I know I shouldn't be saying this, but it's funny how they bicker. It would make it big on a comedy channel. It should be titled 'Who Not to Bring Home to Your Friends'," Rhiannon laughed as she opened her mothers suitcase.
"Or just who not to bring home in general. I know you must thing sourly of your father, but he is the opposite of what he is right now downstairs. He's just not comfortable with them, that's all," Raven explained.
"I understand. I want to rip Nightwing to pieces for what he did. But I control my anger. I try to at least. He's just so aggravating."
"Try having to take orders from him for almost seventeen years. Now that is just pure insanity."
"I can't image," Rhiannon sighed.
"As much as I wish that things were like they used to be before I was kidnapped, I like them even better now."
"What do you mean?" Rhiannon questioned, folding a white cap of her mothers.
"I was the quiet one, the one who seemed to be so dependent. But, I like being the one insecure. You get all of the attention." Rhiannon smirked at the partial joke.
"No offense to you or Dad, but I miss…well….my home. This has been great, but I really had a life there. It pains me to say it, but I want to go back," Rhiannon gloomily stated.
"You can visit them, because I do understand that they are really your parents. But please, I beg you to live here with us. It might not seem like it, but we need you. You are our only daughter and child, and we don't want you to leave again," Raven reminisced.
"We will work it out somehow," Rhiannon smiled, "I wonder how Dad is fairing downstairs."
"We'll find out when we get down there," Raven said, slamming the suitcase shut.
-xXx
"So, how does it feel to be reunited with Raven after so long?" Starfire asked, breaking the silence that was there since Raven and Rhiannon had left the room.
"It feels great. Just like the first time we --"
"Had sexual intercourse?" Changeling blurted out, accidentally externalizing his internal feelings.
"That's for us to know, and for you to never find out."
"I mean it's not like we don't know you two haven't."
"And this is coming from the person who wanted to know about our honeymoon. Not surprising," Slade grinned devilishly. Changeling blushed with embarrassment. He had totally forgotten the comment, and it definitely pained him to hear of it again.
"Please, I did not intend the question to lead into this. Forgive me, Changeling," Star apologized.
"It's okay. I just remembered how bastardly you are, Slade. Now I know why Nightwing thought what he thought, and did what he did," Changeling glared.
"Changeling, don't make this situation worse," Cyborg pleaded.
"If it wasn't for what I did, she would probably be a slut. Sleeping with all the guys you disapprove of just to anger you," Nightwing said, his voice raised.
"Nightwing--" Star tried to say, but her husband was beginning a rampage.
"What did you say?" Slade questioned, clearly angered. To the team's oblivion, the doors had opened, and the two walked in…just in time for Nightwing to say….
"That's right, you heard me. Rhiannon would be a whore, a fucked up piece of shit right under your nose, and you wouldn't even know it!"
"What the fuck did you say about me!" Rhiannon bellowed. Nightwing turned around in surprise, and felt like throwing up the contents of his stomach.
"I…I was just saying--"
"Shit about me? Do you think you still are going to cheat your death right now?" Rhiannon angrily said, raising her right hand with large orb of magic, "I don't think so."
