Heya guys!
So, here is the last chapter of the story. It's not the last, you know, coz there's still the epilogue too, but you know what we mean.
Say thanks to ravenkakashiluv26, Gingerstorm101, Merophe, KraZiiePyrozHavemoreFun, The Amethyst Eyes and last but not least, XLucy0117X.
Can't believe the story's almost finished. It seems like only last week me and SRF were emailing each other Chapter 1; but through the internet complications, school work and the long-distance, we've still managed to bring you this next chapter!
I wanna take this time, once more, to Thank SRF, for writing and coming up with such an awesome idea! I really can't take credit for any of this! Sure, I beta'd, I threw around Ideas, but SRF was truly the mastermind !
I'd like to thank all of the reviewers too! Without you guys, we really wouldn't have had the motivation to keep going to the end! You guys are truly the life line of this story; Thanks!
Chapter 19
A limo, black, sleek, iconic- much like any other from the A-list Hollywooder's garage- pulled up outside of the hotel. The building looked ancient compared to the vehicle.
Slade reached out, and firmly gripped Raven's hand, and gave it a small squeeze as a signal. She teleported them both outside of the hotel, landing them beside the limo.
Slade instantly opened a back door to the car, for Raven- who seemed hesitant to enter. Was it a trap? Would they kidnap her? An old voice, which obviously belonged to a man, answered her unspoken questions;"It's alright, Miss Raven. Master Slade and I will not do anything of the sort."
Uncomfortably, feeling somewhat violated, she slid in, taking the seat behind the old man, next to the window. Slade took the seat next to her, making the dark girl shiver.
"Miss Raven, would you like a drink or some snacks? Tea, water, some biscuits maybe?" Raven wasn't too used to the whole 'ride-in-style' journey, but didn't want to seem rude. She cleared her throat softly, and without giving a second eye to the man, who questioned her, responded with a simple, "Yes. I'll just have some water please." After a few moments, of listening to the driver scuffle up front, a question arose in her mind, and almost as quickly slipped out into the open, "Who are you?"
The fumbling ceased, and Raven quite clearly saw the man look into the car mirror, to meet the eye of his master.
Slade spoke for him, quickly, obviously wanting to get the topic over and done with, "His name is Wintergreen, and he is a friend of mine, who serves me as a butler."
Raven thought it was strange to have your friend as a servant, but kept her mouth shut. She was going back to Jump, and already she was anxious. Besides, who was she to judge about his friends? Her friends weren't exactly, well, normal...
Wintergreen's hand passed Raven a bottle of water and she uncapped it quickly, taking small gulps cautiously. Once done, she put it into a seat pouch. Her attention almost immediately turned to the window adjacent to her; she began watching several fractured and decaying buildings pass by. Mysterious, somewhat frightening men gazed at the car as Wintergreen drove past, they seemed almost too close for comfort. Raven looked on as their toothless smirks and gleaming eyes observed her. It was disturbing.
She shivered, and backed towards Slade, brushing against him. She instantly nudged away from the man, a look of unease plastered upon her grey face, "Sorry, I didn't mean to," she mumbled. She moved even further away; however her distance from the window was still much more distinct than that from Slade.
Slade gave Raven an odd luck, "The people of Blüdhaven are plentiful, though mostly untrustworthy. There are plenty of gangs to go around, mafia leaders, drug dealers, and such...but it's nothing to fear, Raven. You should know that your powers would defeat them long before they hurt you."
Raven contemplated on whether she should deny to Slade about been somewhat afraid, but decided not to lie. She wasn't going to be like him. Her thoughts turned back towards the world outside, and soon she was peering out of the glass once more. The view was becoming noticeably nicer the further the car drove out of Blüdhaven.
The surroundings passed by quickly and silently, as well as endlessly. There was no noise, and the somewhat relaxing silence was lulling her to sleep, Raven's eyes drooping slightly. Did she even sleep enough over the night? She kept shaking her head, and Slade chuckled quietly at her vain attempts to stay awake.
By the time she was exhausted, a lot of time had already passed. Her head was already upon Slade's broad shoulder, after falling on it. Her breathing slowed. Raven was asleep.
"What do you want with her, Master Slade, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I don't mind, Wintergreen. I do want her as an apprentice, but as of now my plans have nothing concerning her," Slade told his old friend.
"I see. But you've grown close to this Titan?" A nod, and William Wintergreen smiled, his eyes shining with memories. It was good to know his master could still be comfortable with other people, considering what had happened with Pat, Adeline, Joseph, Grant...
Silence ensued, but it was bearable. Within a few more hours (and a few biscuits for the hungry Slade), they'd arrived in Jump City. Raven was still asleep, obviously tired. In fact, everyone seemed fatigued.
It was beneficial though. Since she was asleep, she wouldn't know where his lair was, but it didn't matter. He had enough trust in Raven to know she wouldn't betray his location.
They were downtown Jump, where it was considerably worse than Central Jump City. It could remind one of the narrows in Gotham...but clearly, the area wasn't THAT bad. A few people still wandered through the streets, and lights shone out of a number of well-secured homes. Wintergreen parked outside a shady warehouse, not far from a large industrial site. The limo was soon parked inside a secluded garage, and its door was locked with a hand scanner.
Slade gingerly moved Raven's head off his shoulder, and then stepped out the limo. Undoing her seatbelt, he carried her out, an arm under her knees and one underneath her neck.
They walked to a barely visible entrance, where a machine scanned Slade's eye. The door hissed open, barely heard. Stepping in, Wintergreen went to attend to his duties, Slade carried Raven to a small room, in which only a bed and lamp took refuge. He laid her onto the bed, and escaped the space.
A half hour later, Raven woke up, in unfamiliar surroundings. She shot up quickly, wincing from a headache.
A knock came on the door, and after rubbing her eyes, and coming to terms with what was happening, she agreed to let the person enter. "Come in," Her voice came somewhat gruff- probably due to the fact that she hadn't spoken for a good few hours. Slade strode into the room and instantly bombarded Raven with words, which didn't help her aching head; "You're awake. Good. I was just about to wake you. Now, would you like anything to eat, or just to go?"
She peeled the covers off herself, and stood up, out of bed, "I don't need anything."
He nodded, and gestured for her to follow. They walked down a maze of corridors, and it appeared that they were underground, due to the lack of light and earthy texture to her surroundings. In his lair. Those three words made Raven hesitant.
They reached the entrance, and Slade turned to face her. "I'm afraid I can't take you to the tower. I'm sure the Titans wouldn't appreciate my presence." He smiled in amusement, unseen, "Especially Robin."
She nodded almost too hastily. "Okay, Slade. Goodbye, I guess." Not the hero, nor the villain were sure of what they were supposed to say. Goodbyes, were most definitely not their strongest acts.
Raven stepped closer to Slade, some minute emotion welling up inside her chest. This man... was a puzzle. Not knowing what to do, she held out her hand. Slade gave it a firm shake. She pulled his arm forward, and then hugged Slade, both arms wrapping round his abdomen.
After overcoming his shock, he awkwardly patted her back. Almost instantly, Raven pulled away, her face emotionless.
"It won't be the last time I see you, my dear. I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon. There's no need to bid me adieu."
She nodded, and he saw her out of the entrance. Giving a wave, and an unseen smirk, he watched Raven turn into a shadow bird, taking off.
She flew into the Titan's main room, where Beast Boy and Cyborg were sitting on the black couch, as if deep in thought. Robin and Starfire were sitting next to the kitchen counter, looking the same.
They seemed absorbed in what they were doing, so she cleared her throat.
Suddenly, she was crushed in a tight hug. "Friend! You have returned! We were so worried about you! Beast Boy has not been the making the jokes, Cyborg has been plugged to the computer all day, I have not been flying, and Robin has not been doing the sleep! You are unharmed, yes? Where have you been? It is wonderful to see you of the again! We must now celebrate. Please, Raven, try this delicacy I have just made!" She held a bowl of green gloop to Raven's face. Raven felt her stomach flip.
All the titans hurriedly stopped what they were doing, immediately running next to her. Robin stepped in, giving Raven a strange look. "Hey, Star, as much as she wants to, I think we have to sort some stuff out first."
Starfire nodding understandingly. "I see. I shall leave it til later in the coldness of the fridge!"
Raven smiled slightly at her friends English, and heard a gasp behind her.
"No way! Did you see that? Raven smiled! What's so funny, Rae?"
"It's Raven. Nothing's funny, it's just good to see you guys again."
A chorus of 'awws' came out, and all the titans came together for a hug, her in the centre of it. Within seconds, she pulled out of it.
Robin, suddenly remembered why she was gone. "Where's Slade? Did he hurt you? Do you know where he is?"
"I'm here, so I didn't get hurt. No, I'm sorry, I don't know where he is." The last sentence was a white lie. Of course she knew, and she was guessing Robin knew that too.
"What happened?" It was the question they were all dying to ask.
Raven decided to tell them now, so she wouldn't have to later. She told the story of how they'd reached the dimension, and how they encountered different challenges. She made sure to leave out certain details on how she came close to Slade, and about their bond. She did, however, mention that he saved her. Robin's jaw seemed to hit the ground.
By the time she had finished, the whole team were in shock. It wasn't that big a deal to her, but then again somewhere deep down; it was some sort of weird milestone.
"Hey guys, you might wanna close your mouths. You might catch bugs," she explained, interrupting the brief silence.
Robin recovered first, ignoring her heavy sarcasm. "He saved you? How? Has he brainwashed you?"
Raven wasn't sure how to answer that. Had he brainwashed her? She could imagine a mini Slade scrubbing her brain with a cloth, and suppressed the urge to smile at the thought. Cyborg, forever understanding, stepped in.
"Look, man, I know we all have questions for Raven, but I'm sure she's tired. A few weeks with that monster sure is gonna make her exhausted. Just let her sleep, okay?"
Raven wanted to say he wasn't a monster, but didn't bother, as his excuse was good enough for her, "Sorry, guys. Talk in the morning maybe?"
They all nodded, smiling at her. It was good to be home. She walked to her room, stepping in and looking at the thin layer of dust that had developed. They must have been too scared to enter.
Walking over to her bedside table, she took out the knife Slade gave her, and remembered when he'd given it to her. The 'S' insignia was taunting her. She gently placed it on the table, not giving it another glance.
Raven noticed her window was open, and hurriedly closed it. Why was it open? It was closed when she entered, and none of the Titans would've come in. Her senses hadn't detected any emotions. Did someone come in while she was distracted?
She turned to her bed and lay down, noticing a glinting object beside her. She ran her fingers round the rim, almost lovingly. She hugged it to her chest, already knowing what it was, then looked at it. It was an all too familiar sight.
It was Slade's mask.
THE END.
Review guys? We really wanna know how you think it turned out!
Epilogue chapter after, no sequel.