The meadow stretched in front of Raven as an ocean of waving grasses swayed with the wind. She was standing in the middle surrounded by the feathery light reeds as red stars twinkled and burned in the night sky above. A blood moon hung overhead, casting everything in a red light as Raven wandered, her fingers brushing through the grass. Her cloak was billowing behind her, the white color standing out in the darkness. She was staring straight ahead where the meadow met forest, the trees forming a solid wall of shadow that called out to her. Her feet carried her to the darkness even as fire began to burn the meadow, the heat building around her. A voice from the forest whispered her name, a beckoning call that Raven could not refuse.
The inferno consuming the meadow roared, but never did the flames burn her. Blood flowed from the sky, staining her white cloak until it was red and heavy on her back. Raven stood at the edge of the meadow, the darkness of the forest impenetrable even there.
"Raven," the voice called. Raven reached out her hand, extending into the black.
Just as the tips of her fingers passed the shadow, a blood red eye sprung open in front of her, and Raven screamed as skeletal, burning hands shot from the forest, gripping and pulling her into the depths.
Terror overwhelmed Raven as unseen hands yanked and scratched at her. She screamed but when her mouth opened, liquid filled her lungs, hot and thick. Drowning in blood, Raven swung her head wildly in every direction, searching desperately for a way out.
Deeper and deeper she was dragged under as she thrashed and screamed. Just as her body began to surrender, above her the world flashed brilliantly in blue. Another hand shot toward her, and Raven reached. Fingers wrapped around her wrist, and she was pulled through water, the blood thinning and vanishing, as she burst through the surface.
Immediately, arms enclosed her, and the heat of the fire was replaced by calming warmth. Raven lifted her eyes and met the single-eyed blue gaze of Slade. He was staring down at her curiously, gazing around. The burning meadow Raven had been in was gone. Now, they were in a clearing with a waterfall and river flowing beside them. Blue flowers were everywhere, glowing gently in bright moonlight.
"Is this real?" Slade asked as his eye roamed, and Raven rested her head against his chest, the fear slowly fading in his presence.
Raven looked up, gently pulling his chin so he met her eyes. Smiling, Raven whispered, "Does it matter?"
Hours later, Raven's eyes opened, a smile still on her face. The terrifying nightmare she had before Slade's arrival in her dreamworld was long forgotten. Morning light was creeping in through her curtains, and she sighed. Unlike her other dreams, her time with Slade in their private riverside alcove wasn't fading from her mind. From the moment his hand touched hers, Raven remembered every second. Even if they had both realized it was a dream, everything had felt real. At first, she thought the Slade she saw was simply a manifestation of her mind, but the warmth she felt was real. She knew the Slade she was with was really him.
Raven sat up in her bed, ignoring the call to return to her dreaming. As her feet hit the floor, she felt Slade waking and immediately a thought crossed from the threshold between their minds.
Once this is done, let's find that grotto, Slade suggested.
Raven's contentment matched his, and she agreed, Deal.
Then, time to get to work, Slade added confidently. I'll see you later, little bird.
Slade pulled away from her mind, as much as he could with the permanent nature of their connection, as Raven rolled her eyes. Her heart fluttered nervously when she thought of what the day would bring. If everything went according to plan, then Jump City might finally see her as a hero. But if things went wrong. If even one person put together the truth… Raven shuddered.
This is going to work, she told herself, standing and heading to her bathroom to get ready for the day. It has to.
Starfire paced in her room, anxiously waiting for the sun to rise. The alien had slept little the night before as unease ushered her mind away from any restful sleep. She debated with herself over whether to go to Raven's room herself, but feared waking her friend early would put Raven in a foul mood. Waiting around, however, was beginning to drive Starfire insane.
I should not have snooped, she thought to herself. If she hadn't looked in Raven's nightstand, she would never have guessed Slade was the mystery man Raven was so taken by, and she would not be suffering this anxiety now. Still, she also had to admit that perhaps it was better she did know. What if something had happened to Raven? What if Slade was truly the same villain the Titans knew and hurt her? Starfire would then be the only one with enough information who could help the dark Titan.
She is not foolish, Starfire reminded herself, shaking the thought of Raven being hurt. She would not be with Slade if he was a danger to her.
"Oh, Silkie," Starfire groaned as she finished the nervous circuit around her room for about the thousandth time. "What do I do?" The pink larvae blinked tiredly at Starfire, providing no help. Starfire dreaded the conversation she needed to have with Raven, but she also knew it must be had. Just as she was about to steel herself to awaken her friend, a knock at the door sent the alien flying.
"Friend Raven!" Starfire shouted with glee as she flung open the door.
Yet on the other side was the last person Starfire wanted to talk to: Dick Grayson.
"Oh," Starfire frowned, not hiding her disappointment at all. She was still mildly annoyed with him for thwarting her last night. If she had been able to speak with Raven alone, perhaps she would have gotten better sleep.
Dick raised a curious brow at her. "Good morning to you, too, Starfire."
"Yes, a good morning it is," Starfire replied. "Is something wrong?"
Crossing his arms, Dick eyed up his former girlfriend. She was clearly agitated and unhappy to see him though he wasn't sure why. "Are you okay?"
"I am very fine. I was just hoping to speak with Raven. I have not yet had a chance, and I very much wish to talk," Starfire answered with a sigh.
"Right," Dick said, remembering her insistence last night. In the back of his mind, he wondered what could be so pressing that Starfire's whole demeanor changed the longer she kept it in. Deciding it was better not to push the subject, Dick handed Starfire a file. "Well, sorry to disappoint, but I need you for a mission."
Starfire's eyes widened as she took the outstretched folder. "A mission? Now?"
Dick nodded. "I need someone to check out the crime scene in Georgia, and you can get there and back the fastest."
"This is about Slade," Starfire deadpanned, summoning her inner Raven to keep her face neutral.
Another nod. "It's our best lead to finding him. If you leave now, you should be able to get back before dinner. While you're gone, the rest of us will search Jump."
"You wish for me to leave right now?" Starfire asked, slightly incredulously.
"Is that a problem?"
Starfire's eyes narrowed, her fist clutching the folder in her hand. "I have already said I wished to speak with friend Raven."
"Is what you have to talk about really more important than finding Slade?" Dick fired back at her. He understood the two female Titans were extremely close, but with that weapon, Slade was a danger not just to Jump City but the entire world. Whatever was bothering Star could not possibly take precedent.
With a huff, Starfire straightened her shoulders and nearly knocked Dick off his feet as she pushed past him. "Yes!" she called back, marching with the folder to Raven's room. She would do her job as a Titan, but she would get her answers first. As she stormed away, she heard Dick groan and a part of her hoped that if they did find Slade, even if the villain was changed enough that Raven cared for him, he still possessed enough animosity toward the former Robin to get in a few hits.
Outside of Raven's room, Starfire paused. Scrunching up her face and taking a few deep breaths, she rapped on the door. As she waited for Raven to answer, she shifted her weight between her feet, trying to remember her plan on how to approach the subject. Even though she only waited less than a minute, a thousand possibilities raced through her mind. When the door opened and Raven's purple eyes stared back at her, Starfire's train of thought vanished.
"Starfire?" Raven asked, eyeing her friend up and down. It wasn't like Starfire to be up this early, but as Raven gazed at the suddenly speechless woman in front of her, a quick shot of dread ran through her veins.
"Good morning, friend," Starfire finally said, "I wished to speak with you. I'm sorry if I have disturbed your rest."
"It's fine, Star," Raven replied. "I was already awake. Um, come on in." Moving aside, Raven ushered her friend in.
"What's that?" Raven asked, pointing to the folder still in Starfire's hand.
"Friend Nightwing gave it to me," Starfire answered, her eyes finding the stunning blooms still vibrant on Raven's dresser. Hesitantly, the alien floated over to them, gingerly touching the petals of one of the blue roses before her hand trailed down to the orange ribbon around the vase. "It is about Slade," Starfire added, feeling the ribbon between the pads of her fingers. It was silk—smooth and delicate to the touch.
Watching her, Raven fought the urge to hide herself in her cloak. "What about Slade?"
Starfire let go of the ribbon and faced her friend. Her mouth opened and closed, failing to form words until finally, Starfire could no longer hold it in.
"I know Slade is the mystery man you have been seeing, and he is the one who sent you the flowers and the outfit and I know I shouldn't have but I looked in your drawer and found his card and, oh, Raven, I am so sorry, but I was worried for you and now I am more worried because Slade is dangerous and I do not wish to see you hurt but I cannot imagine you would be with him if he was still evil yet he has done evil things even now and I do not understand and Raven, please, tell me you are okay!"
The words flew from Starfire's mouth leaving the alien breathless as she finished. She had flown over to stand right before Raven, her green eyes wide and confused, but even as the truth left her, her shoulders sagged in relief of unburdening herself with the secret.
Raven's face had paled dramatically as her friend announced she knew the truth, and it took several seconds for Raven to process everything Starfire had said. When she did, she found herself pulling her cloak around her body, her mind seeking out the comfort of Slade's presence. His reaction was immediate. He hadn't been actively tuning in to Raven, but as she felt him connect with her mind, her body relaxed.
Starfire knows, Raven thought.
An amused and curious response greeted her, Were you planning to keep it a secret forever, little bird?
Yes, Raven answered, slightly annoyed with his unbothered attitude.
"Oh, Raven," Starfire pleaded, "please say something, and do not be upset with me. I know I should not have snooped, but you were so upset."
Frowning and pushing Slade out of her mind, Raven sat back on her bed, staring up at Starfire with a sad look on her face. "I'm not mad, Star," she admitted. "In fact, I think I might be a little glad someone knows."
Starfire's eyes widened as she lowered herself to sit next to Raven. "So it is true, then? It is Slade?"
Raven nodded, rubbing the back of her neck and staring at the ceiling. "Yeah, it's Slade."
Despite knowing, hearing the admission from Raven's lips was still shocking to Starfire. "But… how? When?" she asked, trying to piece together when this could have happened.
A flash of Slade on top of Raven in her room crossed her mind, and Raven smirked. With a quick, paranoid glance at the door, Raven gave Starfire her best mischievous smile and leaned in. The confusion on her friend's face quickly vanished as a wicked curiosity overtook her. Despite Starfire's concern about who the man was, she would never turn down an opportunity to gossip about one.
As Raven launched into the story, she held nothing back. For the first time, she was able to speak freely about Slade. She told Starfire about the fire Raven saved Slade from, their rendezvous at BioJump, the strange connection between their minds and how it had grown. She explained how betrayed she had felt after learning about Georgia and the subsequent truths she had learned from him after. She described their dinner and the night they'd spent together, and finally, she told Starfire about the plan the two had made to reframe Raven's reputation in Jump City. By the time she was done, Raven was out of breath, and Starfire sat in awe.
Raven waited patiently as her friend absorbed everything she had said, trying desperately not to fidget as Starfire remained quiet. The alien looked between Raven and the flowers before returning her green gaze back to Raven.
With a serious tone, Starfire asked, "Do you trust him?"
At the question, Raven felt Slade's presence perk up, no doubt wondering the same. In the back of her mind, Raven marveled how strange it was that though the two of them now shared even their thoughts the question still didn't seem out of place. She trusted that Slade would not lie to her, but whether she trusted him not to break her heart, she wasn't sure.
Raven's heart thrummed in her chest as the realization that Slade could break her heart settled in. For better or worse, Raven was falling for this man. There was more now than the lust and heated passion that had first ignited between them. They were connected in ways Raven had never been with any other, so, really, there was only one answer to Starfire's question.
"I do."
Starfire nodded, smiling tightly. "Very well," she said. Standing, Starfire looked once again at the flowers. "Please, understand, Raven," she continued, "I cannot trust him, but I do trust you. If he has won you over, and you believe he is not out to harm anyone else, then I believe you. Dick has asked me to go to Georgia. If what you said is true, then I will see for myself who these men were. But, Raven?"
"Yes?" Raven met Starfire's eyes. She had not been expecting her alien friend to be so receptive or to place so much faith in Raven, but still, Raven sensed a lingering conflict.
Starfire's bright eyes seared into Raven's. "If they were evil men, it does not make killing them right."
Raven's shoulders sagged slightly. Unlike the other Titans, Raven was not always against death as a punishment. She would not take life herself, but she also did not fault those who thought it necessary. As a hero, that was a difficult line to walk, but she knew the evils people were capable of. Her father often liked to torture her dreams with visions of the suffering that mortals had inflicted on each other as a way to convince her to accept her first destiny. She hated to admit that after some of those nightmares, she had wondered if Trigon was right. The monks of Azarath had been the ones to guide her through those moments, but the horrors had never fully left her mind. She wished she could see the world as Starfire did, but that was not her fate.
"I can't change him, Star," Raven murmured.
"I know," Starfire agreed quietly. "But please do not let him change you."
As Starfire turned to leave, she paused before flying back and wrapping Raven in a tight hug. "You are my greatest friend, Raven. I am happy for you, truly, and if this is what you wish, then I will stand by your side, but," she continued, squeezing Raven until the smaller woman thought her back would break, "if he hurts you, I will tear him apart."
"Th-thanks," Raven gasped, trying to breathe.
Releasing Raven, Starfire took a step back, her jovial smile returned to her face after so many hours of absence. "I must go, or else I fear Dick will try to drag me from the Tower."
"I would like to see him try," Raven snorted.
Starfire laughed, the high-pitched sound a welcome noise to Raven's ears. As her alien friend left, Raven felt lighter than air. She thought the moment any Titan found out the truth that she would be shunned by the team, from her home and family. Now that her best friend knew and accepted it with little resistance, a part of her dared to hope the others would too. It was only when a familiar voice echoed over the intercoms that Raven reminded herself there was one person that would never accept it, no matter how many assurances, how many promises.
As Nightwing's voice called the other Titans to the ops room, Raven swore to herself.
Dick can never know.
Across the city in a dark basement of an unsuspecting home, Slade watched from the shadows as a greasy-haired man typed away on a keyboard. Slade was in his full armor, his hand clutching an extendable bo staff as he considered the best way to approach. The man sitting at the computer was no match, and, really, if Slade wasn't in a time-crunch, he wouldn't have even bothered with the so-called villain. But, since he only had twelve hours, he found himself needing to outsource.
Despite his heavy boots, Slade silently stepped from the darkness and approached the man from behind. He walked until he was just behind the chair, his orange and black mask reflecting on the many computer screens.
For a few seconds, the man didn't notice, but when one of his video games cut to a dark screen, the man shrieked, nearly flying upwards as he spotted Slade's visage.
"Hello, Freak," Slade hissed out.
Control Freak fell from his chair, looking terrified as he stared up at the infamous villain lurking in his basement. "How—how did you—?"
"Quiet," Slade ordered, glaring down at the scampering mound beneath him. "Unless you want my face to be the last one you see, I suggest you shut up and listen. I have a job for you."
Control Freak gulped but kept his mouth shut.
"Good boy," Slade said with condescension dripping from his voice. "Now, tonight, I'm going to put on a show for Jump City, and you're going to help me do it."
Despite the fear still evident in Control Freak's eyes, curiosity got the better of him. "What kind of show?"
Slade tsked, leaning down and letting his blue eye narrow with malice. With a malevolent sneer, he answered, "I'm going to kill the Titans."
A/N: Only a few more chapters left! What are y'all most looking forward to for the end?