What up guys? Yes. We are aware of the ceiling, and the sky...but really...what up? How are you? Happy old new year from Qlf! Russians...we tend to celebrate...um...everything.

Thanks to Gingerstorm101, ravenkakashiluv26, sinomin, Random hero77, XLucy0117X, KraZiiePyrozHavemoreFun, The Imperfect Me, and true story.

To the anonymous reviewer 'true story': Thanks for the advice! We'll take it to heart, but we're already halfway on the story, and Raven and Slade have been in the dimension for a long time. We're trying to show how they become friends, so they change, become different to who they were at the beginning.

We love all the reviews...*tearing up* thank you for all the support.

Oh. And we have some bad news.

Qlf asked DC on their website If she could buy Teen Titans, and CN, unfortunately, to date there have been no replies. Sorry, but that means, that we, don't own Teen Titans. Don't Sue!

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Slade woke up, from a dreamless sleep. He noticed it was a little after midnight, according to his reliable body clock. He sat up, and stretched.

Raven was nowhere in sight. Considering the hour of the day, and the circumstances, he decided to look for her, as the girl had a talent of getting herself into trouble. Whether it was a gift or a curse, she still had that 'ability'.

After a good few minutes of striding leisurely through the darkness, he found her sat near the river that he'd found, and it was an unexpected sight.

Her hair was dishevelled, her eyes wide and frightened. He noticed her arms were shaking. She was sat on the sand, her face buried in her knees. When she heard him, she looked up, startled.

"R-Raven? What are you doing?"
He was still shocked, explaining the stutter. She looked almost... scared. What could have caused the normally stoic girl to be like this? She tried to recompose herself.

"I could ask you the same thing. I had... a nightmare. It was very… vivid. I've hardly ever had them before. Took a bit of getting used to the fact that it wasn't...real."

So, that was it? Nightmares scaring her? Probably Trigon's doing. "I see. Raven, you shouldn't fear nightmares."

The words did little to comfort her, but she relaxed. Slade outstretched his hand to her. Her jaw dropped at the gesture. She took his hand, and he pulled her up. He was helping her?

"Thanks. I'm fine, just a little shaken up. Can you take us back to the base? I'm a little lost." Raven was truly astray, but in more ways than one. Slade, himself, was too.

Slade took her upper arm, and she stopped quivering so much. He pulled her through the forest, leading her back to the intensity of the bright fire.

They both sat next to each other, in front of the warm flames. The light bounced off his mask, obscuring a good view of it. Slade spoke, "Do you feel like going back to sleep?"

"No, not yet. I just need to calm down." He could see Raven was still on edge, whether she'd admit it or not. He had little experience on the topic of reassuring people down. Joey and Grant barely came to him for help with nightmares. And Rose. He shook the memories away and turned to face Raven.

"Do you want to talk about it? It'll help you, Raven. Take your time." She gave a small nod, and then seemed to change her mind, and shook her head.

"I can't tell you. There was just an enemy and..." She trailed off, the dream resurfacing. "I'm sorry..."

Slade understood immediately. The 'enemy' was most likely himself. She was afraid that what happened in the dream would happen to her. Raven didn't want to do what she might've done in the dream.

"Don't be. I understand, Raven, you've told me enough. Do you feel better?" She nodded, not in the mood to talk, or listen to him. She went back to the distant mode she with the Titans.

Silence took over the base, not a sound slicing through the awkward atmosphere. It unnerved Raven, as it made her more paranoid. And after the dream, it made her afraid.

"Slade, the other day, with those beasts. Thank you for saving me. But I don't want to be a hindrance, so I was wondering if... you'd teach me some defence manoeuvres."

He took it in. So, the girl wanted to learn from him. This could be his advantage. "I will, on the condition that I... join your meditation sessions. Some days, even I need to unwind."

"Okay then, it's settled. But nothing like full on training. I just need to be able to defend myself. I don't want be like Robin, or Te..."

Not wanting to hear his former apprentice's name, he spoke, "We'll talk more in the morning. As for now, sleep, Raven. You're becoming more stressed. Dreams can't hurt you, unless you let them."

She lay down, and shut her droopy eyelids. He did the same. "Thank you, Slade." That early morning, she dreamt pleasant dreams.

When Raven woke up, it was a lot later than usual. The sun was high in the sky, and the fire was out. Probably midday, she guessed.

"Sleep well?" She had forgotten him in her observations of the place. She stifled a yawn, and nodded to him.

"Listen, Raven. I'm going to get us some food, and we still have water from yesterday. Do you want to come?"

"Yeah, I'll come. Let's go now. I'm starving." She stood, and stretched her arms out. She grabbed an extra blanket from the sack, and hid it under her cloak. Running her hand through her hair, she followed Slade out to the river they'd been to that morning.

"Slade, how do we know what's safe to eat, and what isn't?" It was a good question, and Slade turned to face her.

"We don't. This dimension is similar to Earth, so we can find similar animals to hunt."

Hunt? Hunting meant killing. He was going to kill? She couldn't have that. She knew how on Earth people killed animals, but that was different...somehow.

"We don't have to hunt animals. We can just get fish, like the one you got yesterday."

"Eventually the fish will run out. You can't always be the hero, Raven. There are lives which you can't save. And fishing, is hunting too, just on a smaller scale." She hated that he was right.

He dragged her behind a tree for cover, as a strange looking animal, similar to a deer, started drinking from the river. She found the scene relaxing, because it was like Earth, which she missed dearly...

Slade took out the pistol, ready to shoot it. He was about to press the trigger, when the gun floated out of her hands. He narrowed his eye in annoyance.

"Would you rather starve?" He asked in a controlled and deadly calm anger. It demoralized her how he could be so in control, even when irate. These types of villains, Raven thought, were the worst, and the most dangerous.

"Yes, I'd rather starve then have you murder an animal. We can get a supply of fish instead." She wasn't scared by his anger. He wouldn't lash out at her, since he had one thing a lot of villains don't have. Patience. He was always eerily patient.

"And how, Raven, do you suggest we get the fish?" He heard her sigh, obviously annoyed.

The blanket under her cloak was brought out and unfolded. It dunked itself entirely under the river, and frightened the animal away.

In one quick swoop, she brought it back to the surface, curling the edges so the contents wouldn't fall. Inside, there was roughly about a dozen fish. Folding all corners to create a sack-like container, it smoothly floated behind her.

Slade glared at her, and she glared back. Neither was willing to back down. But in the end, Raven looked away, walking back to the base. He followed.

A conversation had been started. Raven and Slade found themselves around the fire once more, already having eaten their fish. The leftovers were dumped by a tree, effectively hidden, and covered so they wouldn't stink up the place.

"I could teach you to hunt, Raven. It'd be a new skill."

"I might want to learn defence from you, but I don't want to learn how to kill. I'd refuse anything on hunting, Slade. Plus, I don't want to use a gun."

Her decision was set in stone. She wouldn't kill directly. Never. Slade wanted to make her see things his way. He found it wasn't working, yet. Another time, maybe. He didn't have time to deal with this now. He was tired.

"Okay, Raven. Let's move to a... somewhat lighter topic. Why did you become a hero?"

She raised her eyebrow in disbelief. "You call this a lighter topic? I became a hero because even if these powers were made for evil, they can be used for good. To help people, unlike you."

"Everyone has different intentions, my dear, and if you are trying to be a hero then so be it. Think, Raven, there are other types of evil, beyond people who think they're villains."

She narrowed her eyes. "Well, Slade, what's your point? What are you trying to make me think?"

"I'm not trying to get you to think anything. Heroes only defeat villains, when there are more evils than that. What about other places in the world, other evils, like tsunamis, bushfires...global warming even?"

"I know that there are other evils, but we can still try to stop them. Everything deserves to be saved, and it can be."

Raven was confused. There were heroes; they saved people's lives, stopping criminals. But then again, they didn't bother with other cities, or stop anything but villains. He was right... No! She couldn't allow him to be right about anything.

Slade saw the inner conflict, but he was unsure of whether he was actually wrong. That was just his opinion.

"I'm sure everything can't be saved, Raven. You'd better start looking at the truth, before you believe the lies you're telling yourself."

She nodded, not wanting to start an argument. Raven had a lot on her mind, and some meditation would clear it. The talk was too much.

Slade just sat there watching her. He had no problem in being still; after all, training in the military came in handy. She must have stopped talking to prevent an outburst.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Azarath Metrion Zinth..." she chanted, quietly. Instantly, she was calmed.

It reminded her of home...a flash back came and went. It was Titans Tower. For once she relaxed, and let herself be swept up by it.

Their happy voices began to fill her head, and she smiled...

Why her? Why, of all the Titans, was it her who came here? It wasn't fair, but not a lot of things are. She guessed that she was better to survive here than the other Titans.

After all, putting Robin and Slade together could start a whole new era of war. But then again, they worked well before? That was the end of the world though, and they had no choice, she reasoned.

Beast Boy with Slade in this dimension would be suicide for him. Slade would not tolerate the annoying shape shifter, while Beast Boy would endlessly blame him about Terra's petrifaction. None of them would return unscathed.

Starfire, maybe? Her naïveté would probably earn her a few insults from Slade, but she could probably survive with him. Knowing her, she'd probably be polite. Raven could guess that Starfire's ideas would clash with Slade's; but they could learn to get along. Maybe?

Cyborg might also do well in the dimension with him. A few arguments would be in order, him forever being protective of his friends. Cy would probably criticise everything that Slade had done, about how he ruined lives, and hurt everyone he met...he'd just be a second, more polite, more understanding...

Raven sighed. It was no use mulling over possibilities. She was here with him, and she couldn't change it. She'd have to deal with it.

Instead of continuing to be lost in thought over what could have been, she flicked through memories in her mind, using it like a photo-album. She dwelled on each happy moment with the Titans. She missed them.

At least Slade wasn't talking, she thought bitterly.

There you have it guys!

We hope you enjoyed!

R &R?

Peace,

Qlf and SRF