The house was near the docks edge, where all the importing and exporting holds are. And that's were Justin thought he'd escape to, to at least buy him seconds to examine the extent of the wound. By just the pain he was in when the blade was in his being, he felt that death was inescapable.
Justin walked backwards off the blade, and screamed with pain, as the blade exited his body. His vision blurred for a moment, for the pain was so strong. He gathered himself together in a few twitches of is head, and made his way out of the as fast as he could.
Nightwing glanced over at Slade, who then gave Nightwing a confused look.
"Where the hell, is he going?" Slade said, very pungently, standing with the "bleeding" blade.
"Who knows. The kid is probably about as experienced as a rock," Nightwing pointed out.
"Unfortunately, I've researched him being one of the best. Not unless he made a name for himself…in his father's company. He lied about his whole resume. The damn bastard is as experienced as a rock. His attitude had me fooled. Come on, Boy Wonder, it's off to fetch the bleeding bastard."
-xXx
Justin could imagine himself turning pale, as blood was pouring from his body. He wasn't going to make the night unless he went to the emergency room. The trip was to far, and he was weakening by the second. Even if he did go to the hospital, he was sure Slade would pay him a visit. One only certain and special people receive.
"Come on, already. I don't have all minute!" Justin said through gritted teeth, impatient. Clutched in his bloodied hand, was another grenade.
-xXx
Raven had a skip in her step, and an accomplished feeling in her heart, but it all went to the back of her mind, when the residence of Justin came into view. Worried that Nightwing was in an even worse condition, she broke into a jog towards the home, and tore to the basement.
"Slade! Nightwing!" she cried. Once again, she was left with no response. She saw a dark red shimmering pool, and noted that it was fresh blood. Convinced it wasn't Justin nor Slade, Raven threw herself into panic. She rushed outside, and looked around, calling their names continuously. She looked around furiously in each direction, taking in the scenery. As soon as her eyes laid upon the docks, she had a feeling that the brawl had made it's way down there.
-xXx
"Look, is it really worth going and finding him? He's going to bleed to death," Nightwing pointed out.
"I want to see his eyes glaze over as his soul finds it's "peace" in hell," Slade gloomily described.
"Isn't that a little morbid?"
"I live for blood and guts, and vice a versa. I'm just fulfilling my calling."
"This kid has brains, even though his experience sucks! He's got something up his damned sleeve!"
"I'm fantastically immortal. If you want to sit here, suck your thumb and whine go ahead. Next time, don't send the invitation. I'm going to go finish this guy off out of pure want. If you want to join, then come. If not, continue sitting here, sucking your thumb and whining!" Slade yelled frustrated.
"Fine, I'll come," Nightwing pouted, as if defeated, "but you better be sure that there is no huge danger."
"If I was sure there was danger, I wouldn't be here. That's just plain boring," Slade said with a smirk.
"Your sense of humor is getting dull. You're not as witty as you used to be," Nightwing commented.
"Oh my, is that a gray hair? And did you get shorter? From what did you say? Age? Oh, I see. At least when I "age", I look the same."
"Who would want to see you anyway?"
"Must we venture into that topic again? I assume you want the rest of what you deserve?" Slade asked, threateningly.
"Smart ass," Nightwing mumbled under his breath.
"Thanks. That's the best compliment I've gotten in years from you."
"It's the only compliment you're going to get from me."
"At least I got one," Slade snickered.
-xXx
Raven walked as fast as she could down to the docks. A terrible feeling spread throughout her heart as she neared the warehouses, a feeling of despair and loss. Her heart beat loudly in her chest, and with each breath her adrenaline rose.
"Please," she murmured into the night, "please let everything be alright." Tears formed and they gathered at the bottom of her eye, and the anticipation ate her nerves away. She came to the gate and saw it open, but saw many of the metal pieces covered with drying blood.
-xXx
"Finally come to…end me?" Justin said fervently.
"Don't act to excited. It takes all the fun out of it," Slade pointed out.
"Ah, I see. …fate hasn't been to kind to me, so just end my…misery," Justin said through gritted teeth.
"You're already dying," Nightwing pointed out.
"He wants to be saved in heaven, I'm sure. Maybe God will take pity on him because I killed him. But I doubt it."
"I hope God will have pity on her too," Justin said with a smirk on his face.
"What?" Slade asked, turning around. Justin pulled the ring from the grenade and chucked it, taking his last breath along with the throw.
Slade's world exploded into slow motion as he screamed at her to turn around and run. He yelled furiously and ran toward the grenade as it headed its downward path into the ground.
"Raven!" he cried.
The grenade exploded, and throttled all three of them to the ground. The heat caused burn marks, and being thrown against the pavement caused lacerations and broken bones. Once the fire cleared, and the smoke was thick, the only one who could move was Slade.
-xXx
Sirens rung from the police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances as they rushed towards the scene. Curious onlookers look down on what lay before them from the hill that overlooked the docks and warehouses. The city's new vans rushed to scene to get as much coverage as possible. This was the most exciting news story since the Titans parted.
"We are here live at the docks amidst a terrible scene. A loud noise was heard about a half hour ago, and I hear talks of a small bomb or grenade was the cause of the explosion. One man is confirmed dead, but because of a stab wound. And a man and woman are in critical condition with extensive burns. Oh my god! I just got word that the man who is in critical condition is Jump City's own good doer, Nightwing! I can't believe it. Well, this is Emily Burns for Jump City News, Channel six, reporting live from the docks," the news reporter said into the camera. After last lines were said, the camera man dropped the camera, and she played with the microphone, seeming devastated.
"You okay, Emily?" the cameraman asked.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just a little shocked about this story. That's all." But she wasn't as devastated as the man watching from a distance
-xXx
"We are here live at the docks amidst a terrible scene. A loud noise was heard about a half hour ago, and I hear talks of a small bomb or grenade was the cause of the explosion. One man --" The news reporter's voice said, before Gar yelled across the room.
"Cy! Throw a bucket of tofu over!" he yelled. Seconds later a tub of tofu landed in his lap, extremely close to his groin.
"Watch it!" Gar squealed.
"--is in critical condition is Jump City's own good doer, Nightwing!"
"Woah, Cy…look Nightwing is on TV."
"For what?"
"Being in critical condition fo--"
"Get your jacket, Gar. We're going to the hospital."
-xXx
Slade inhaled the thick smoke and opened his eye. The mask lay crushed beneath his face, and his body surged with pain. He could feel broken bones go back into place, and gouges in his skin come back together. With all the energy he could muster up, he supported himself on his hands, and lifted his head, to see a blurry image of a body, feet away from him. He looked to his left side, and another body was there not moving. But Slade, didn't care about the one next to him, he cared about the one that seemed so fair away through the jolts of pain igniting throughout his body. He pulled his legs forward, supporting himself on his hands and knees, shaking. Pushing his luck he thrust himself upward, making his legs take all the weight. They nearly crumbled, but supported, as he stumbled forward loosing balance with each second. Soon, his torso was moving to far forward, and his feet weren't taking big enough strides to make any sort of base for him, and he fell face first onto the pavement. He looked up, and the body was now inches away. He used his arm muscles to drag himself closer, and sat himself up. The extent of the damage on her broke his heart. Her skin was so scorched that her features on her face were not even recognizable. She was hot to the touch, the heat still burning her skin.
"R…Raven," he cried softly through tears, "can you hear me? Come on Raven, please say something. Raven…Raven!" A loud moan escaped her mouth. He placed a hand on her chest, and her breathing was erratic, and her heart was pumping at twice the normal speed. "Hold on, Raven…just hold on."
The sound of the siren reached his ear, and he knew he couldn't be hanging around a scene like this. Raven was too fragile to be in his care, and she needed medical help right away. Resisting his own decision he let her go, and stood up. The healing process was finished for him. But for Raven, he feared it would never be over. He kept on looking at her limp body as he walked away from her, picking up his mask, and then turned the corner of a warehouse, and disappeared before he could be seen.
-xXx
His voice echoed in her mind, as it soothed her heart. All she could do was moan to tell him that she was still with him. She could barely breathe without being in excruciating pain, but she couldn't scream. She felt him let go, and walk away, his presence leaving. She moaned again silently, but he didn't hear her cry. Sirens rang, and she knew it was medical help, but she doubted that she would make it to the hospital.
-xXx
The irregular beeping paces on both machines rang ruggedly within the room. All the doctors and nurses examining the wounds looked very bleakly upon the situation, and were preparing themselves for the worst. The light and life in Raven's eyes were fading, and her sheer will to live was fading. She looked to the bed next to her, through the tubes and wires connecting her to machines, and saw that her friend had a chance of living, but with permanent damage to facial and skin features. She knew what she had to do, and no one could convince her otherwise.
One last time, a memory began to play. A memory that made her heart feel beaten….
"There are times I want to wring your neck, and wish you dead. But then you always have a smart ass comment that seems to bring me back," Raven sighed.
"I'm good like that," Slade said with a smirk.
"I want to live forever with you, Slade."
"No you don't, Rae. It's a curse."
"You want to die?"
"The moment you do…so I never have to live without you…."
'Slade,' she thought to herself, 'I hope you know that I love you, the way you have loved me.'
-xXx
Gar threw a hand to his chest, and he felt as if his heart dropped to the floor.
"Did you feel that, Vic?" Gar asked, worried, "that dying feeling?"
"As if someone close was--"
"Yeah." A long pause followed the bleak response.
"Gar, did we even think to call Kori?" Vic asked Gar. Gar pulled out his cell, and dialed the home number. The number rang, but no answer.
"Shit, no answer. I'll try the cell," Gar said, furiously dialing the second number into the cell. After a few rings, she answered.
"Hi, Gar!" she answered, cheerfully as usual.
"Have you watched the news, or heard anything, Kori?"
"No, I haven't been home in hours. Just meandering around town. And I just had this feeling of deep sorrow. Oh, it was such a horrible feeling…."
"Kori, get your ass to the hospital now!" Gar stressed to her.
"Nice way to scare her, asshole," Vic said, partially sarcastic.
"Am I ill?" Kori asked.
"No, but Richard might be in critical condition from an explosion."
-xXx
The medical put Richard under, and they gave Raven morphine to reduce the pain. But for Raven, there was nothing they could do, but watch her fade. The doctors whispered to each other who should bring the dreadful news to their loved ones. Once decided, they left the room. Raven watched as they left, and closed her eyes, her spirit slipping away from the world she knew. Thin black ribbons of energy left her body, and together formed a raven above her body. The raven glided over to Richard's bed and circled around him once before diving steeply into his body. Richard's wounds immediately began to heal, and the pain started to subside. Though he was asleep, his subconscious was aware of the healing process his body was undertaking. His heartbeat returned to normal, and his burns would heal with no scars remaining. After the raven disappeared, and Richard's body well on its way back to health, the monitor switched from many beeps, to one long tone.
-xXx
His face stern, and eyes lost in thought, Slade sat down the hall from the room where Raven and Nightwing were. He kept on thinking about the past, his mind throttled himself into thinking about all the good and the bad that has happened ever since she stepped into his life. She loved him for his flaws, something no one has done for him before. She was the missing puzzle piece in his life, the one thing that made his existence worthwhile. And to think that someone so near to his heart, ripped away was just unbearable for him.
He looked up as the doctors stepped out of the room, and one walked toward him in his direction. He stood, to greet the news, and all the pain that was going to follow it.
"Hi, I'm Doctor Mac, and head of the burn unit here at this hospital--"
"I don't care who you are, I just want to know how they are doing."
"Of course," he said, swallowing hard, "Nightwing, has extensive burns, that will bleed, and continue to be a thorn in his side until they heal into scars."
"And the woman?" A long pause followed the question, "she…she will make it, right?"
"She won't make it through the nigh--"
"Doctor Mac! Come and look at this," a male doctor yelled. Mac ran down the hall and into the room, and Slade followed. "Look, his burns they have almost healed and they aren't leaving any scars. This is nothing short of impossible, right?"
Slade knew what had happened, and looked at Raven's peaceful body. He then turned around and left the room, pacing around in the hallway, trying to abate his anger.
"Why," he whispered, "why did you do it after all the shit he put you through." His throat became soar, and his throat dry. Liquid rested at the bottom of his eye, and he tried to blink it away but his emotions were to strong.
"Slade!" a woman's voice called his name. He turned to greet her. "Slade, what are you doing here? Where's Raven?"
"In a better place," he said with a smile.
"And where is that?" Gar asked.
"Up there?" he said point to the ceiling, "Oh shit. He was right…I killed her. I killed her…."
"What are you talking about!" Kori asked, confused and getting upset.
"There was an explosion at the docks that put Richard and Raven in critical condition. He had a chance of living, so she used what was left of her soul and spirit to heal him. She's…."
"No…," Kori gasped in disbelief. She peeked her head into the room, and saw his story proved true. A screech of sadness rolled off her lips, and buried her head into Vic's chest, weeping. Vic could barely keep balance with Kori, and the news hitting him like an anvil from above. Gar could barely breathe, and he felt his lungs had shriveled to nothing.
"If any of you feel the need for last moments, please go ahead in, and step out when you're done," Doctor Mac said softly. The three all looked at Slade, but he didn't even look back at them, he just stepped into the room, and shut the door.
"It's strange not to look at him as the villain," Vic sighed.
"He wasn't the villain as soon as he captured Raven," Kori said through sobs.
"It's Richard that he despises most," Gar pointed out.
"Yeah, but he likes picking on you the most," Vic said with a smirk.
"Ha, ha, ha. Laugh all you want…but dude, I can't believe she's gone." Kori burst into tears again.
"Please, let us not talk about such loss. It makes my heart sink to the floor," Kori cried.
-xXx
Slade stood by the door for a moment, thinking of how to handle how he felt. All of his emotions were slowly being uncorked, and he didn't know how to react.
"The bastard was right, Raven. The other bastard had a trick up his sleeve, and look what I've done…look what I've done!" Slade yelled throwing his fist down on the foot of the bed, splitting the board, "I want to die Raven, I need you." He pulled out a pistol from his jacket pocket, and took a long stare at it. The bullet would penetrate any part of his body, and the wound would heal. No matter how many times he cocked the gun, reloaded it, and shot it, he would still walk out alive. The feeling tore him apart even more and his blood boiled and adrenaline pumped. The small chair in front of him was the first object in his path of pure rage, and it was flipped across the other side of the room. He then collapsed on his knees next to her bed, and took her hand in his.
"Baby you're turning cold," he whispered, "don't go, please don't leave…it's not you're time to leave…. I wish I could I pull this fucking trigger to close the gap between us…I wish I could have died the moment you did...why did you have to save his sorry ass…why?" Slade sobbed, clutching her cooling hand, letting his tears dampen her delicate hand. "This is for you, love." He took the pistol, and put the barrel to his heart, and quickly pulled the trigger. The pain felt just as it would on any other person pointblank, but the healing of the wound already was happening. He buried his head in the bed, and he felt a touch on his head. He lifted his head; her hand fell as if she rested hers on top of his head. "What the fuck? Raven!"
The door handle started to turn on the door, and Slade snuck a last kiss on her lips, and broke through the glass out of the room.
-xXx
Kori continued to sob and Vic and Gar stood in silence. There was nothing that they could say to each other that could make them feel any better, for they all throttled into a deep loss and state of mind.
"I am truly sorry for your loss," Doctor Mac consoled.
"Please, do not lay in that she is gone," Kori snapped.
"Kori, he's just--" Vic tried to say.
"I do not want to hear of this any more! I am trying to heal my heart of brokenness!"
"I'm sorry, I guess I will come back later," Doctor Mac whispered solemnly.
"Kori he was just being comforting!" Gar pointed out.
"They keep on mentioning their sorrow for me. I am full of sorrow, I don't need theirs!"
"I understand that, but he's just trying to be nice."
"He doesn't understand my sorrows. I don't want his niceness. I just want…," Kori broke into tears again. Through the midst of her tears they heard a shot go off, and looked at each other with horror.
"Please tell me that was not what I thought I heard," Kori begged.
"Why would he pull a--"
"What happened?" Doctor Mac gasped, "it sounded like a gun went off." He looked at their faces and they gave no answer. He grabbed the door handle and proceeded into the room, and at the same time heard a crash and when the door was open, and he looked into the room, the glass was broken. He turned to try and catch the man, but the three Titans stood in front of him.
"What are you doing? Move!" he cried, "he's getting away!"
"You want to catch him?" Vic asked.
"Go ahead and try, because you aren't going to find him once he leaves this hospital," Gar added. The doctor gave them malevolent glances, and pushed through them to run after him. Other doctors and nurses flooded into the room to make sure the living patient wasn't harmed. Then a nurse pulled the white sheet over Raven's body, signalizing the end.
-xXx
The cell vibrated on the table, and the noise stirred the woman awake. She drowsily groped for it in the dark, and once she clutched it in her hands, she opened it and answered it, sleep still hanging on her words.
"Hey," she said into the cell, rubbing sleep out of her eyes.
"Steph, something has happened."
"Dad, it's six in the morning. What's so important that you have to call me?" she asked sounding agitated.
"It's your mother, Steph. There was an accident, and she died."
"What? Dad that's…no…. That's not true."
"I wish it was not. The wa--"
"No!" she cried, tears escaping her eyes, "she's not gone!"
"Steph, I wish I could tell you otherwise. The wake is in four days." The phone clicked, and Steph sobbed, and collapsed on the bed, crying that this couldn't be happening.
-xXx
"I got it!" Jess called across the apartment, running to the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey Jessica, it's Slade."
"Oh, hi Mr. Wilson. I assume you want to speak with Sam?"
"That would be nice."
"Okay, hold on one minute. Sam!" He ran into the kitchen and grabbed the phone
"Hello?"
"Sam, it's your father."
"Dad? This is unexpected. What's up?"
"It's your mother, and Jessica's father. They were put in critical condition the other day, and Jessica's father made it out fine bu--"
"What happened to Mom?"
"Sam, she…died last night."
"What? No…no…. Oh my god."
"The wake is in four days," Slade in monotony.
"How are you so calm about this!" Sam cried.
"Calm? Calm! Until you feel this emptiness, you have no right to tell me that I am too calm. It has taken me the whole night and a couple bottles of the world's finest liquor to get me this sane!"
Slade hung up the phone and took another swig of vodka from the bottle, and slammed it down on the table, breaking the glass, and spilling the liquid all over the table. He stood with weak knees, and stumbled to the counter to support himself. The house was so dark without her presence, and the memories lingered in the shadows. Only one light was on in the entire house, and it resembled Slade's soul, surrounded by darkness, waiting for that one last string of hope, that one last light, to burn out.
-xXx
In the closed casket ceremony, all of Raven's close friends and family gathered and shared the memories that she left behind. There were tears, but they tried to rejoice Raven's existence.
"I'm sorry," Sam said.
"No need for that," Slade plainly said.
"I had no right to say that, and I'm sorry. That's all I want to say."
"You're forgiven, if that's what you want to hear."
"Listen, we're both grieving about my mother and your wife. Just stay strong, that's what Mom would have wanted," Sam pointed out.
"I know. I can look out for myself." Sam gave his father a gentle smile, and placed a hand on his shoulder and walked away. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Steph walk up to him, her eyes red from crying. Their relationship as father and daughter was never a strong one, considering they both were headstrong.
"We were never very close, you and I," she said softly.
"You inherited my forwardness. We are too much alike," he simply stated, "why are you trying to make amends with me now?"
More tears fell from her eyes to the ground, and she sniffled hard and clutched the tissues in her hand harder.
"Because," she sniffled at almost a whisper, "I realize how important my family is to me. You're the only bastardly father I have."
"The compliment is appreciated."
"You're welcome. Well, I'm going to go home. I'll see you tomorrow, Dad," she said giving him a quick hug.
"You never were the family man," Richard bluntly stated.
"Don't even get me started y--"
"I know you want to kill me. I would have died for Raven, but instead she turned the tables. You aren't the only person who lost someone who meant something to you, Slade. We all lost her. Yes, you have known her in ways that none of us have, but you must live on. I'm sure she that's what she would have wanted. And I hope, that even after all I've done to yo--"
"Richard, please stop with the kindness crap. I think I know what's going to happen to me, and how I'm going to handle this, okay? I don't need advice from the stick up my ass," Slade spat sarcastically.
"Okay. I'll see you around then, eh?" Richard said outstretching his arm.
"Goodbye, Richard."
-xXx
Look to the past,
And remember and smile,
And maybe tonight
I can breathe and smile for awhile.
I'm not in the scene,
I think I'm falling asleep,
And then all that it means is,
I'll always be dreaming of you
Feeling This, Blink 182
A snowflake fell from the heavens and landed on the urn, clutched in his hands. He then opened the urn, and let most of the ashes catch the wind on the island where the tower resided. After that he caught the next ferry to the mainland and proceeded to walk to their home, the home that they shared in the early stages of their relationship. He walked up the driveway and headed into the backyard, and once again opened the urn and freed more of her soul. He closed it solemnly, and went inside the house and stood in the kitchen. In his mind, a reel of memories played, and he sighed heavily. He then made his way upstairs and looked into the bedroom. Although it was empty, he could imagine all the late night talks and early morning conversations they had. He then walked down the hall where they had their first kiss and he peaked into the room where he put Raven. With one last look at all the places where the most memories were made, he went downstairs and went into the garage, and pulled out the 'For Sale' sign and stuck it in the front lawn. The sun was beginning to set, and he set off deep into the city to its largest building, which was a five star hotel, and proceeded to the roof of the building. He opened the top of the urn and let what was left out of the urn.
Her spirit soared around the city, the city that she once swore to protect. Their lives were here, all the good memories and the bad. Slade watched the sun set, and thought how he was going to cope. This section of his story ended where it began; a lonely man, his cuts running deep, and his emotions scattered. Another stab in the dark for happiness, and it once again left him. Soon, all of the events would linger in the back of his mind and then dissipate to become his forgotten obsession.
A/N: Wow. A nice long chapter to end this story. I hope that this story has been most enjoyable for you, because it is made its way into my memories and heart. I'd like to thank the reviewers for they have really been the driving force in all of this. please review! Without them, there would be no reason to write. I'd like to thank my friend who sparked ideas in my mind, and made writing this most enjoyable. I'd like to thank my mom for watching me sit on my butt watching me write this, cause it made her mad watching me 'do nothing'. Sheesh, this sounds like some long goodbye, yah? Or some speech at the golden globes. Well, this isn't goodbye, just a see you later until the sequel, yah? .
