A/N: Hello. Well it turns out I have a 90 chance I'll need a kidney removed...so what does this mean to you the reader...for one, updates will probably be much slower if things go where they could be going. On the plus side, nothing is fatal so at least I'm not going to die...awesome. Well thanks to those of you who reviewed, more of the usual for this chapter though I did manage to get past 3000 words this time...just trying to get my desire to write back...it's a tough road ya know...Anyways, enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, but hey, I think we all knew that already

Trying to Do the Right Thing

Chapter 27: Where the Sun Will Not Reach

By: Finalitylife

The cold breeze showed no remorse in its actions as it continued to blow through the night, nipping harshly at Raven's skin. It was moments like this she truly wondered why she didn't wear heavier clothes than her uniform but then again, Azarath had never been cold and Jump City had been a mild city at worst. She was simply in an environment she was simply not used to and a city that was completely foreign to her, foreign to all of them except their missing leader.

It was in the cold, dark city where the sun never seemed to break through the forever overcast skies that Robin had in fact becomes Robin. It had been within this urban jungle littered with archaic, menacing gargoyles hanging over ledges side by side with tall, modern business buildings that Robin had learned to fly as a hero though Raven knew he had truly flown long before he put on the red, yellow, and green uniform of Robin.

She shivered, though this time not from the cold, but from the emotions she was picking up from the surrounding citizens by her empathy. Their emotions were harsh, cold, and hopeless though that truly was the sound of this dreary place. This was not a place to live . . . it was a place to survive and after only being here for a short time Raven easily understood just why Robin had been the way he had been when he first met her, that despite his subtle kindness, there was a darkness hiding beneath the surface . . . the darkness instilled by this city and whatever tragedy she sensed help make him who he was.

Of course despite the time Robin had spent in this city, this was not the city he had been destined to protect for another was the shadow who instilled fear into criminals heart by his mere mention. This was the one who had trained Robin, taught him almost everything he knew. However, this was also the man who drove Robin from this city, whose all encompassing presence caused Robin to leave so that he could prove himself to be his own man. Raven smiled the smallest bit. Eager...that had been one of the most noticeable things about Robin when she had first met him. He had been so eager, like a kid trying to get at his presents on Christmas, and it had almost been cute in way though at the time, things like that were never a thought for Raven. Only now as she looked back on those memories which seemed like so long ago though were not at all, that she really could define what it as she saw in the boy who would become her leader, the young man who would become her love.

Raven had no idea what state the relationship between Robin and Batman was exactly, whether their arguments had been resolved or were still burning strong. All she really knew about Batman was that he was the dark protector of Gotham and had in fact helped raise Robin, and Robin was a good man. Raven knew the Titans would need help in finding Slade and what better place to go than to the man who trained Robin, whose detective skills were far more renown than even Robin's were and Robin's were exceptional.

Raven knew that finding Batman would be impossible because you didn't find Batman, he found you but she also knew that Batman despised having other heroes within his city's limits, and that maybe by making herself blatantly visible, it would draw the Dark Knight out for a confrontation. Hopefully a verbal confrontation because Raven and the rest of the Titans truly did not want anything else. Raven fought to urge to glance at another rooftop where the other Titans were waiting. They figured it would be best for only one of them to initiate this plan and Raven's volunteering could not be persuaded in the slightest so here she was, on the cold rooftop of some building in the middle of Gotham, simply betting that Batman will appear to tell her to leave. The slim chance of this actually working was not beyond Raven, but she knew there wasn't much choice. If Robin had been unable to find Slade all those times in Jump City...what chance did they have.

Again the unrelenting breeze caused her to shiver, and she did her best to pull her cloak tighter around her body. Other than the breeze, there was no sound around her, even her exhales from her chest being more visible in the brisk air than audible. She wasn't even sure how long ago she had made her way here except that it had to have been hours by now, and the prospect of Batman showing his face were becoming less and less. This was all just more wasted time...more time that Robin remained in the clutches of Slade. Raven fought down the pain in her chest as she thought about what Slade could be doing to Robin...what he could be making him do.

Raven suddenly felt the buzzing of her communicator, knowing it was probably Cyborg telling her to come back to them, but Raven refused to answer it, knowing that even though the chance was slim, she would stay here all night if she had to. It was at this moment, that a heavy voice made it self aware, startling Raven. She couldn't help wonder how it was possible for someone to sneak up on her when her senses were prepared for something like this, but then again, this was Batman, and apparently his reputation was well deserved if you could sneak up on someone like her.

"What happened to Robin?" The words startled her as much as the emergence of the voice. She turned around to find the imposing form of Batman barely visible in the shadows of the exit on top of the roof. Raven stared at him for a second, still slightly in shock, but also trying to get some type of read from him, though finding absolutely nothing slipping off of the dark hero. His mind was completely closed off...a truly impressive feat.

"Well?" His voice held the tiniest, minuscule amount of annoyance in it as he awaited her response and Raven felt the slightest bit of being uncomfortable in his presence.

"How did you know something happened to Robin?" Batman did not respond immediately, rather his eyes only hanging on Raven fiercely, and she couldn't help but fidget nervously.

"I only spotted you and your friends on the other rooftop so I know he is not with you. Also, Robin would never allow the Titans to venture into my city unless absolutely necessary, and then he would have let me know he was coming. This makes it obvious that something happened to him. Now tell me, what happened to Robin." This time it was not a question but a blunt demand for answers and the way Batman's eyes bore into her from the shadows truly made her feel like that this man was more demon than she ever could be.

"It's a long story but he's been captured...by a man called Slade, and he was taken somewhere away from Jump City. We don't know where he went." The glare that Batman gave Raven made it abundantly clear he was not happy, and again she couldn't help but fidget underneath his piercing gaze.

"How did this happen and I want the complete story, every detail you know...Now." Raven took a deep breath before explain the story, telling Batman about who she truly as, the return of Trigon to the mortal realm, the end of existence, and the final battle that put a final close to destiny, though in the process, losing Robin to Slade. She did her best to compose herself as she talked despite all the emotions that were bubbling to the service as she went through all the traumatic moments and did not mention any of her private moments with her friends and Robin. Batman did not need to know any of those.

Raven wasn't sure how long she was talking, but when she finished she was sure that if the sun could be seen rising in this gray skied city, it would soon be peaking over the horizon. The whole time, Batman had not moved a muscle, only absorbing all the information she set out, never once showing anything as to what he was feeling as he heard of the fate of his prodigal 'son'. Raven finally finished and awaited his response.

"Meet me on this exact rooftop in two days. I will speak with you then." Raven was about to respond when Cyborg's voice was heard, turning her head to see him being carried over by Starfire to his rooftop with a green bird flying next to them, the other Titans probably having finally decided they wanted to know what was going on after all the time. Raven turned her head back to Batman a few seconds later only to find him gone without a trace, and she couldn't help but think that maybe, this man could help them.

Cyborg was set down next to her, immediately asking questions and all Raven could really do was tell him they had more waiting to do...two more days of nothing before they hopefully could move on. Tonight, this night would give no more answers to them. It was time to get some sleep.

Robin P.O.V:

Nothing but a broken down, decrypted warehouse on top in some city I didn't have the opportunity to recognize. This has become my new home. Lying underneath the surface is a vast network of winding corridors and rooms, and now I'm not sure where every path leads though I am quickly learning everything I can about this place...any bit of knowledge I can gain will help me...hopefully will help me.

I glance around the bare walls of the cold and sterile room again, reminding myself this is actually where I sleep...the few moments I do sleep. A bed and a desk, nothing else as Slade tells me anything else would simply be a distraction to my training. Of course Slade's training involves beating me bloody, telling me how I am a complete disappointment to him, and that I will learn. Learn what exactly he never says though I need to hear no words from Slade to know what he is talking about. He wants me to learn to be him.

Time has no purpose or place where I now dwell. There are no sunrise or sunsets, no clocks or calenders to tell me what time or day it is. Every moment simply transitions into the next, and then the next, and then the next, until it simply becomes routine...becomes my life. I grip my hands into fists in pointless rage because I know there is nothing I can truly do at this moment. I held the smallest glimmer of hope that the magic might not be as all consuming as Slade claimed it to be, that it would waiver with the passage of time against the strength of will and my utmost desire to refuse his commands. It does not...it never relents...it never rests even when I do. The magic shifts around my subconscious, breaks into dreams that I can never remember when waking. All I remember is Slade's commands and that I must follow. It is becoming tiresome quickly, never escaping his presence...his eye always finding a way to bore into my mind.

The door to my simple room slides open, a robotic warrior standing in the doorway, its emotionless face focused completely on me. Slade is summoning me again to train, this much I know. I stand tiredly up from the hard bed, my one knee cracking as I get up, eliciting the smallest of grimaces from my face. Slade barely allowed me time to heal from the battle against Trigon, only taking a moment to ensure nothing was broken, nothing torn. My body aches all the time though I slowly find myself getting used to it. I don't want to be used to pain...I truly don't want that...

I follow wordlessly through the dimly lit corridor, knowing exactly where we are going with each step. There is almost no light anywhere in this place, only the minimal lighting to get from one place to the next, and I suspect that if I saw a bright light I would probably fall over blinded. Of course, I may never have that opportunity again...something so simply as light.

I finally arrive at the destination, passing by the robot, though not before slashing out with a blade, severing its head from its body. The robot's body collapses to the ground while the head rolls sparking down the hallway, the noise echoing down the metal hallway. I constantly destroy these robot minions in moments of frustration though Slade does not seem to care at all. There are always more robots to replace them, and he already has possession of the one minion he wants...me. He only mocks my childish antics, telling me that I need so much more control which in fact only infuriates me more. It is a vicious cycle...well it is a cycle until Slade decides to break the cycle by slamming me into the ground. Always the same...

I walk into the much larger and open room which has served as my training ground, the incessant clicking and grinding of gears seemingly everywhere...something I've come over the years to associate closely with Slade. I hate those gears...hate them so very much...and from the amount of times I've almost been crushed by them, they apparently don't like me very much either. The gears always remind me of my own weakness...my greatest failures. My apprenticeship, my delusions, and that night that Slade returned. It truly feels like so long ago that Slade broke up Raven's failed birthday party, jump starting a series of events that nearly consumed everything.

Was it a long time ago? Was it last week? I don't know.

I scan the darkness around me, waiting for Slade to appear, and it is not long before he seems to appear out of the darkness itself, silently coming into existence.

"Welcome apprentice. I do hope I did not disturb you." I grit my teeth knowing he probably chose a moment when he knew I was thinking about sleeping to call me forth. I still wonder if Slade actually sleeps, something I pondered way back when I first started hunting him. I have never seen a place for him to rest, and it always feels like he is alert and prepared, never tired like I am. How can I hope to beat something like that?

"Of course you disturbed me Slade, but I'm sure you already know that."

"Indeed Robin. Its time for more training. You were far too sluggish in our last encounter which tells me you need to be trained harder. I believe I have been going to soft on you because of your injuries from before we started.

"I find that hard to believe Slade."

"It does not matter what you believe Robin. I have no reason to lie to you, no reason to not be completely straight forward. I have already won Robin, something you seem to yet to grasp. There will be no escape or salvation for you. You will become who you are supposed to be...you will become my apprentice."

"I will never become your lackey Slade. How many times do I need to tell you that. No amount of pain or magic in this universe can make me become that." Slade laughs darkly, and I see a strange gleaming in his eye...amusement...he is amused.

"Robin...do you think what I desire from you is to become my lackey? To become just another will-less servant like my robots or what Terra almost was? I would not waste my time on such a thing. What I truly seek from you Robin is to have someone follow in my footsteps. I told you when you first adorned my symbol that all my knowledge and all my power is for you...all for you, and all it will take is you to have the will to take it." Slade takes a few deliberate, heavy steps forward.

"You Robin...there is so much potential in you. I seek an apprentice, but I also seek the future Robin. I will not carry on forever despite even my best efforts, and someone must take my place. You will take my place...there is no other way." I can feel his eye boring into me again, and I so want to break contact from staring at it but I won't give him the satisfaction. I talk back at him, trying to be as defiant as possible.

"I'd suggest that you just go have children to follow in your footsteps, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone...the world doesn't even need one of you." If his eye looked amused before, it now looking like he was smiling.

"Oh I have had offspring my dear boy but all of them were complete and total failures. None of them have been what you are...none of them could ever compete with you. When I look upon you, I see someone who truly can equal me...somehow who can one day surpass me. I would not waste my time on someone who could never truly rival me, but you can Robin and I intend to make sure you take your place. Now...defend yourself."

The armored fist comes at me relentlessly, and I barely avoid it as my mind continues to dwell on Slade's words. Did he just reveal my purpose? Did he just reveal something about his past? I duck a kick, knowing grimly that if Slade is indeed divulging details about himself, being so loose with his tongue, then he must know without any doubt...I have truly lost.

Another day where my blood will be spilled mercilessly on the cold, hard floor. This is my life.