A/N: Sorry for the late update!
Still can't get online as much..grrr...and still don't own Teen Titans...
But enjoy! :)
Chapter 2- The Hunt
Beast Boy, Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire stared at Robin. They had all watched Slade fall into lava, and now, Robin was claiming the impossible…that Slade was alive and back in Jump City.
Cyborg decided to be the first to speak.
"You sure it was him? I have noticed you had Slade on your mind lately, maybe you just thought you saw him. Maybe the light played a trick on you" he said uncertainly.
"Yeah dude…or you could have mistaken him for someone else. There are costumes of him around here"
"Which is very disturbing" Raven muttered.
"No. It was him."
"It makes no sense, Robin. The man fell into a pit of lava, remember? Who just lives through that?"
"Apparently, Slade" Raven answered, wrapping her cloak around her.
Beast Boy shrugged his shoulders as Star looked at Robin worriedly.
Robin scowled and slammed one fist into the palm of his other hand.
"It doesn't matter how he survived right now. We need to find and stop him from whatever he plans on doing. Cyborg, take the bridge, Raven, here, and Beast Boy, the park" he ordered.
"What about you and Star?" Cyborg asked.
"We'll take downtown. Contact if you find him" Robin replied.
"Do not fret Robin, we will be victorious" Star encouraged.
But she had noticed the change in him.
It was just like before.
The obsessive and moody Robin.
She didn't like that side of him, but she knew he couldn't help it.
"He is doing everything to protect us. He wants to catch Slade before something bad happens again" she sliently kept telling herself .
"We have to...we can't let him get away again" Robin muttered as they walked past a few stores.
They were silent as they searched, finding no one in the area.
"Perhaps he is in a different location" Star suggested and shivered as a cool breeze hit her.
She had shed off her costume so she could walk and fly easier.
Robin had done the same, now wearing his usual colorful costume, he never gone a day without wearing it. He wouldn't let Halloween stop that.
Plus, he could move easier this way.
"No. He should be in one of these locations. I just wish someone would find him and contact me! "Robin growled and threw his communicator down on the ground.
It bounced a couple times before rolling to a stop at Starfire's feet.
Star flinched slightly at his angered tone, but bent down and picked his now slightly cracked communicator up.
It instantly started to beep.
Robin turned and snatched it out of Star's hand. She was startled by his action, but kept quiet.
"Did you find him?" Robin asked tensely.
"I circled the whole carnival…he's not here" Raven answered.
"Same, I can't imagine Slade hanging around here anyways" Cyborg replied.
"Dudes, I see no Slade…can we go back to the carnival now? We are going to miss the good stuff…" Beast Boy complained.
"Whatever, go then. I'll search for him on my own" Robin snapped angrily at them.
Robin slammed his communicator close and stopped to tuck it away.
"It will be ok, Robin. We will surely find him. I will assist you, no matter how long it takes" Star said, hoping to calm Robin down.
Robin didn't reply, but searched around.
His eyes widen as he spotted Slade across the street and he took off, leaving Starfire alone and bewildered.
"Robin?" she called out after him.
Robin sprinted after Slade, who led him to a dark alley. Robin watched as Slade somehow managed to climb to the rooftop of one building. Robin scowled and reached into his utility belt. He took out a grapple and fired it. He was launched upwards and landed onto the rooftop. Slade stood in the middle, hands behind his back.
"Robin, it's always a pleasure to see you" Slade said pleasantly.
"What the hell do you want Slade?" Robin snarled, clenching his fists.
"Tsk, tsk Robin, being so rude to your favorite adversary. Now I am not sure I want to play with you…" Slade teased.
"Just tell me what you are planning! " Robin yelled in frustration.
"My plan? That is only to take and torment what belongs to me" Slade answered smugly.
Robin growled as he charged, throwing three electric discs at Slade. They flew and hit the ground in front of Slade. Smoke quickly erupted and Robin leapt into the air, aiming to kick from above. But Slade caught his foot and threw him down on the ground. Robin lifted his head to see Slade's foot aiming at his face. He rolled away onto his hands and knees.
Robin stood up and charged again, but Slade eluded and punched Robin hard in the back. Robin stumbled and fell, landing on his stomach.
He scrambled up and turned to face Slade.
But Slade was now on the next rooftop.
"Catch me if you can" he taunted and started off once again.
"Grrr…" Robin growled and ran, leaping to the next rooftop. The chase continued, as the sun slowly faded into the horizon.
Robin skid to a stop as he saw the large gap between the next two buildings. Slade was on the other building, looking at him, head tilted slightly.
Robin focused, he had done this before. He could do it again.
Robin backed up until he was at the far edge of the building, and then started sprinting forward, picking up as much speed as possible. He pushed off the ledge of the building he was on. He held in a scream as he flew across the gap. His feet hit the edge of the ledge; he struggled to keep his balance.
"Steady now Robin, don't need you getting hurt…or dead" Slade said, chuckling.
"I'm not the one who's going to get hurt" Robin replied angrily as he gained his balance and hopped off the ledge.
Slade chuckled again as the two instinctively circled each other.
"I' m not finding this amusing Slade" Robin growled.
"You should lighten up Robin. It is Halloween after all…"
"Yeah, I bet you love it…must be your favorite holiday."
"But of course…it has always been my lucky night"
The two now charged at each other.
Robin did a roundhouse kick at Slade, confident that he would hit Slade.
But Slade easily sidestepped the kick and threw a punch at him.
Robin avoided the punch and back flipped once, withdrawing his bo-staff.
Slade rammed into him, causing him to fly back and losing his grip on his weapon.
"Dammit! He's much faster and stronger…and damn smugger!" Robin thought angrily as he picked himself up and clenched his fists.
"What's the matter Robin? Afraid to hit me?"
"Shut up!"
Robin charged and attacked once more, throwing rapid punches at Slade.
But, every punch he threw missed and in return, Slade would deliver a painful and staggering punch.
Robin staggered back once more as Slade's fist smashed into his cheek. Another punch sent him flying and hitting the ground hard, rolling to a stop against the thick ledge wall.
Slade ambled silently over to him and kicked him hard in the ribs, causing Robin to lose his breath and curl up in defense.
"Shame, is that the best you can do? Disappointing Robin…very disappointing"
"Like...I give a damn what you think" Robin panted out as he glared up.
"I can see we are going to have a hell of a time together…"
"You fucking wish. All I can see me is putting you in your place"
Slade grabbed Robin by his shirt, lifted him until they were eye leveled, and narrowed his eye at him.
"You have no idea what I have in store for you…the night is still young, Robin"
He set Robin on his feet.
Just then, Starfire appeared, slowly landing onto the rooftop.
"Robin! There you are!" she called out to him.
"Another time Robin…you know where to find me"
Slade spun around and raced toward Starfire.
"Star! Stop him! Stop him now!" Robin screamed anxiously as Slade ran right past her, fading into the shadows.
Star looked around wildly, trying her hardest to see Slade.
She wanted to see Slade, but saw nothing but city buildings of various sizes, a dark sky with a large bright moon, and Robin.
Robin rushed to her, staring at her.
He was breathing heavily, anger twisting his usual calm and kind face.
Star was frightened by this expression.
"Robin, are you-"she started to say when Robin grasped her arm, his gloved fingers digging deep and hard into her arm.
"Robin…what are you doing? You are harming me!" she started to sob, tears running down her cheeks.
He ignored her, gripping her arm tighter.
"What happened? Why didn't you do anything? Slade ran right past you and you let him escape!"
"But Robin…I didn't see Slade anywhere…" she whimpered.
Robin let go of her, his mind racing.
"But he was right there, in plain view…how could she not see him? Slade is up to something! "
"Go back to the others. I'll deal with Slade. It seems like nobody else around here can" he snarled.
Star was rubbing her arm, still dazed that Robin had done such a thing.
"But I wish to help…" she started to say, but Robin scowled at her.
"Just go away!" he yelled and turned away, storming off.
When Star arrived back at the carnival, shesilently walked towards a bench, when she saw Raven stepping out of a dark colored tent.
"Is…everything alright?" Raven asked, walking over, sensing that something was troubling the Tamaranean.
Starfire looked at her feet, remaining silent, unsure how Raven would react.
"How about this? You go sit down and I'll get us some food and apple cider, you can tell me then. If you want" Raven suggested.
Star smiled and squeezed Raven to her. "Oh thank you, friend. That does sound most delightful"
While Raven was gone, Cyborg and Beast Boy came back, carrying large amount of prizes, including stuffed animals, toys, and food.
But they noticed that Star was not in her costume and had a depressed look on her usual smiling face.
So, the two did what they did best; they goofed around, to try to cheer Starfire up.
Raven joined them, handing Star a slice of pumpkin pie and apple cider.
"Hmmm…this is mostly delicious! It makes my body all warm!" Star exclaimed in surprise as she ate and drank.
"Yeah…it will do that" Raven replied, with a small smile.
The other two Titans smiled as well and waited for her to share what was wrong.
So, she began to tell them. How she and Robin had searched, how frustrated Robin became, and how he took off.
She told them when she had caught up to Robin, who was on a rooftop. But she paused, very unhappy to share the next part.
"He yelled for me to stop Slade, but I did not see Slade anywhere…I tried my hardest to see him, but I could not" Star said sadly.
"What happened after that?" Cyborg asked gently.
Star blinked back some tears. "He ran up to me, with this very intense angry look and he…" she left off; her hand instinctively went to her arm.
The three noticed her action and Cyborg placed his hand over Star's.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked.
Tears fell down Star's cheeks.
"I am surely positive he didn't mean to…but I never saw Robin so angry…so terribly angry at me" she whispered and looked down.
Cyborg and Beast Boy scowled; Raven frowned and stood up.
"We should go find Robin. Now." She said determinedly.
"Are you up to it Star?" Cyborg asked as they stood up.
She nodded and followed the others.
Robin had just entered Slade's old abandoned lair.
He was weary, but was determined to keep going.
His footsteps were muffled by the thick layer of dust.
He entered the large room, looking at the large piles of gears as he passed by.
"I know he's here…he won't get away this time" Robin thought fiercely.
He stopped when he saw the platform chair that Slade had once sat in. His eyes scanned the remaining part of the room, where a little light was shedding on.
The screens that were once used were dirty and cracked.
He turned and walked to the right, looking up, he saw a catwalk above.
There stood Slade, in a relaxed composure at the rail.
"I was wondering when you would come" Slade said as he leapt down, gracefully landing in front of Robin.
"Why couldn't Starfire see you?" Robin asked bluntly.
"I believe you are familiar with cloaking technology" Slade replied slowly backing away.
"Of course I am." Robin replied with a scowl.
Slade chuckled.
"Well, there's you answer. Since, I am not going anywhere, Robin, let's play. Just the two of us…" he said amusingly as he turned and ran.
Robin growled and chased after him, watching as Slade easily leapt up the large pile of gears. Robin followed Slade's lead, leaping from one gear to another, until he reached the top, only finding himself alone.
Then, the gear he was on started to tremble.
Robin leapt down, now trying to outdistance the tumbling gear. He leapt down from another gear, landing on the ground in a crouch. He looked up to see the large gear falling towards him. He ran as fast as possible, feeling the vibration as the bottom of the gear hit the ground.
He could hear it tipping over and the force of it falling on its side caused Robin to lose his balance and he tumbled to the ground.
He heard other debris falling around him as he stood back up.
He started to walk, cautiously, seeing Slade leaning against a gear, arms crossed.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it?" Slade asked amusingly.
Robin narrowed his eyes.
"Only brings back memories of how much I hated you!"
Slade chuckled as he slipped back into the shadows.
Robin ran after him, and then spotted a circuit breaker.
"Maybe this will help…" he thought and pushed it up.
The light came on, flickering on and off.
He watched it, unaware Slade was right behind him.
The light died, throwing Robin back into the semi darkness.
"Come get me Robin"
Robin spun around and charged blindly where the voice was coming from.
He scowled and continued to run, until he saw Slade again, now above him.
He climbed onto another pile of unsteady gears, seeing Slade on a broken catwalk.
"Come now Robin, I know you can do better than this. It seems like our time apart has made you weaker… but only made me stronger"
Robin growl loudly at the taunt and pushed off the unstable gear, flying into the air.
He barely made the jump, his fingertips slipping, and then gripping the edge tightly.
He looked down, not just seeing a long way down to the ground, but a ground covered in sharp debris such as broken ends of gears, axels, and columns.
Robin looked back up at Slade as he slowly pulled himself part way up.
"Your friends are useless; they can't see me and can't help you…They can't see the truth, Robin, even when it's right in front of them"
"Then I'll have to take care of you myself! I've stopped you before!"
Robin planted both feet on the underside of the catwalk, and then pushed off with enough force to heave himself up past the edge.
He flipped over Slade, spinning around to face him.
Slade chuckled and tilted his head.
"I don't recall that Robin…but please do tell me how and when you had actually "stopped" me..." he paused, stepping closer to the hero.
"But you and I do know for a fact that you never have defeated me…at least not alone"
Once again, enraged by the taunts, Robin charged at Slade, who step aside as Robin went by.
With ease, Slade grabbed his cape, yanking it back, forcing Robin to stumble back.
Slade twisted Robin around, and delivered heavily jabbing punches, mostly connecting to Robin's jaw.
Robin gripped a railing to steady himself.
He was panting heavily now and needed to rest.
But Slade didn't give him that chance.
Robin looked up in surprise as Slade silently appeared in front of him.
Wordlessly, Slade attacked again, driving Robin back towards the opposite edge of the catwalk.
"I will take you down!" Robin snarled at Slade, but at that moment, Slade threw him back.
Robin stumbled back, his foot slipping off the edge, and he felt himself tipping over.
He let out a startled scream as he fell.
Now, all he could make out was smashed debris flying quickly past him.
Trying to keep calm, Robin reached for a grapple, but he felt his cape snag on something.
He was yanked to a stop, but lost his breath as his cape started choking him.
He clawed furiously at it, trying to pull it off.
He stopped; then raised his hands above him; his cape had snagged onto a jagged pipe.
Slowly he pulled his cape off it.
Then, he started falling again.
"I should be fine. The drop isn't too bad" Robin thought, and gulped.
He was mistaken.
Robin slammed into the ground, on his back.
He lost his breath once more and saw stars shimmering before him.
He was numb all over and couldn't move a muscle.
For an instant, he feared that he had broken his back.
"Oh..please...please...move! Feel! Something!" he pleaded silently to himself.
To his relief, he could feel warmness running down his arms and back.
He closed his eyes, taking shallow breaths, trying to stay calm.
"I have to get up! I have to! Oh shit…I'm bleeding! But I need to move!" he thought, distressed.
He reopened his eyes, to his abhor, Slade standing over him.
"It looks like you have gotten yourself hurt…you must be more careful Robin"
Robin groaned, rolled over, and forced his aching body to move.
He stood up, his legs trembling.
"Just shut the fuck up and fight" Robin said angrily, but weakly.
"Hmmm…as you wish"
"Ugh!" Robin moaned in pain as his back slammed into a propped up gear. Blood ran down the gear as Robin slid down it. Slade's hand reached down and roughly grabbed Robin by his hair, pulling him back up, then delivered rapid punches, causing Robin to fly towards the entrance of the lair.
Robin knew he had to escape.
"I can make it! I have to!" Robin thought fiercely, seeing his new goal so very close.
He scrambled up from another fall, but Slade grabbed his ankle, causing him to fall back down.
Slade started to drag him away from the entrance; Robin desperately tried to grab onto anything, but was only to be yanked away from the object.
He couldn't kick at the man, for Slade had him by the ankles.
Slade started humming pleasantly, which Robin started to scream in frustration and pain.
"No! No! No! I need to escape!" he thought, panicking.
He hated this part of himself.
He hated screaming and the panicking.
It made him feel weak.
It only piss Slade off.
Slade stopped in his tracks, pulled, and turned Robin over.
"That's enough" Slade said loudly in an annoyed tone and slammed and dug his heel hard and deep into Robin's stomach.
The screaming immediately ceased; Slade crouched down besides Robin.
Grabbing him by his now badly bruised jaw, the villain and hero stared at each other.
"How can you expect to defeat me…when you can't even touch me?''
Robin stared at Slade.
"I'll find a way" he whispered weakly.
Slade let go of his jaw and stood up.
"I suggest you find it fast. Before your time is up"
Slade then disappeared.
By then, the four Titans had arrived at the scene.
They had traced his communicator signal from the T-car.
"Robin!" Star exclaimed in horror.
The other three Titans gaped in shock as they saw Robin in a battered, bruised, and bleeding state.
His costume was torn in numerous places; his wounds clearly visible.
Raven and Star flew over and gently help him up.
"Slade! I have to find him!"
"Dude, what happen to you?"
"It doesn't matter! Slade just escape! "
"There is no Slade! He's fucking gone, Robin!"
Robin snarled and pushed himself out of Raven's and Starfire's hold.
He stormed up to Cyborg, fists clenched.
"Do you think I did this to myself? " Robin screamed at Cyborg, pointing to himself.
"This is the only entrance and exit. Nobody got past! Nobody was here!"
Raven floated in front of Robin.
"You need to calm down"
"Please Robin, let us go home. You must rest and heal"
Star stood next to Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy blocking the doorway.
"No. Get the hell out of my way. That's an order!"
The four Titans stared at him in shock.
Robin had never spoke to them like that.
They all knew something was clearly wrong.
Cyborg reluctantly nodded to Star.
She dashed over and grabbed Robin from behind.
"Starfire! Let go of me! Now!" he growled angrily as he struggled.
"I am sorry Robin..." she said sadly, keeping a firm grip on him.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos" Raven chanted calmly as she raised a hand in front of Robin.
He slowly closed his eyes and went limp in Starfire's arms.
"I put him in a light sleep. But he will wake up. We need to figure out what is wrong with him" Raven spoke, her tone grim.
The three nodded and they took off for Titan's Tower.
A/N: So...what do you think? Feel free to review!
Well, I hope you enjoyed it!
Did I mention this is a short story? Because it is :)
Til next time...