Side Effects
Chapter 4
Slade's POV
All things considered, I suppose I shouldn't complain about how things worked out. After all, I do have my flesh back, and I live how I please. Aside from that, there are a few strings attached. I suppose that's what happens when you make a deal with the devil; fortunately, his daughter is not as vindictive.
But she was opportunistic. I'll give her that much.
And now I found myself calling upon a master. Like a dog that tugs on its leash, then brings its owner a bone so that he gets a little bit more length of leash. Like a pet hitman. And while the irony of my entire situation is not lost on me, I do find myself with certain parameters that I am not fond of.
It's not like the new Trigon is anything like the last one; she doesn't bother me much and has always had interesting assignments (such as taking the changeling from Robin's side). But it's the principle of it all that sickens me; that I am no more than a pawn, a lapdog to Raven.
Well, for now anyways, Deathstroke the Terminator will walk into the Justice League's headquarters as his own master. It was truly enjoyable watching Robin squirm during the conference call where they explained why they needed my services. A Darkseid invasion already had on the edge of their seats, but Robin seemed to truly struggle with my presence. Good; I guess this job isn't all bad.
I was given specific coordinates from where the League would teleport me into the Tower. On arrival, there were a few random but powerful members just "loafing" around, obviously as support should I try to blow something up again. Aside from the insignificants running the console, the only person who looked like they were supposed to be here was Batman. He looked as calm as ever, and approached me with unwavering confidence.
"Mr. Wilson, despite any of your past jobs, as of now you are on our tab and thus are our asset. I don't doubt you've already begun thinking about our situation, so we'll be on our way to a war room meeting."
Batman seemed cordial, stern, and business-like. Everything I would expect from the Dark Knight.
"Ah, Batman. It's refreshing to be treated like a consultant and not a hired gun; I was worried if that perception might hinder our progress."
We began walking down the corridors, presumably to the war room.
"I've pondered the same thing. With the stakes at hand, I don't imagine many of us—especially those who were here the last time this happened—would stall progress…except, possibly…" he trailed off.
"Robin" I said firmly. He nodded without turning towards me, and we finished the walk in silence. Upon reaching the room, we entered to find everyone important scattered around the room. While the place had its own buzz before I entered, upon entering everything slowly quieted, as if everyone froze when they noticed me.
"You all knew he was coming. Don't look shocked." Batman antagonized.
Superman made his way to the front, standing tall as ever, and sized me up.
"Deathstroke, I take it. I assume you already have something for us?"
Oh, do I ever. Armed with knowledge that I doubt anyone outside this room is privy to, I can make this as painfully awkward as I want.
"Indeed. But I feel as if I'm missing some substantial 'X' factor, something that has come to your attention but hasn't been shared with myself. I received the copies of your troop movements and stations, reports on the best locations for a battle, and even projected squad lists. It all felt as if I was missing an important 'flux.'"
As I spoke, I slowly eyed the room. Eyes were narrowed, postured straightened, lips licked, necks scratched; I had obviously struck a large nerve. And they have no idea who I actually work for (or live for, actually).
"All that, coupled with the information I obtained during a kidnapping job recently…" I finally make eye contact with Robin and the two other Titans, who were sitting at the back next to a computer that seemed to match Cyborg. They all either cringed or balled their hands into fists as I so casually mentioned the green one. "…caused me to look closer at Raven."
As I said her name, it was as if the room got colder. I went from annoying to threatening just by saying her name. She was right; they don't like her here.
"…And what did I find? Missing, fugitive, hunted by the League? Well, I can certainly think of one apocalyptic scenario where all of that makes sense. And what are the odds that it would coincide with Darkseid second coming?"
Everyone's patience was wearing thin, and it's not wise to make enemies when you are outnumbered this badly.
"So the solution is really quite simple. At all costs, we turn one cosmic power against another. All you're left with is one weakened enemy and Darkseid's poorly led army. So tell me, why do you need me? Why haven't you secured this without me?"
The room was silent. No one typed. People barely breathed. I had found the thinnest ice possible, and decided to jump on it.
"We've tried. We've had no successful contact, and cannot find her unless she wishes to be found. We already exhausted all of our options involving Raven; you're here because we need help with other options." Superman stated. I nodded and let the topic drop, and things began to resume around me.
Eventually, I found something to do. Batman and Flash were running an operation to gain supervillain's support and help for the actual battle against Darkseid, and wanted to use my name and contacts to further their plans. I relented, purely out of the foolish love for the ground usually beneath my feet, and soon found myself lost in my work.
Late that night, I had finally found a good place to stop and left to find the quarters I had been allotted. I was assured that my room would be free of bugs or observation devices, but I still took thirty minutes to sweep it. I couldn't risk them intercepting anything I was about to send.
The room had a console that I used to log onto an anonymous server that I used for communications. The sight would convert whatever message I wished to send into any form I needed, and could then anonymously send to any device on the planet.
We need to speak. Immediately.
Changeling too.
The message was short and contained little that would betray me if it were intercepted. Anyone who found it would think I was conspiring with the person I delivered the Changeling to. Which I was, but no one knew that was Raven.
I sent the message to Raven's new communicator, and waited for a reply. She was typically quick with replies unless out of the reality, and she had said she hadn't planned to leave anytime soon. I grew impatient and frustrated with my wait, before finally receiving a similar anonymous message.
Is it clear?
Finally. I sent my reply.
Yes.
Ten seconds after I replied, one of her portals opened next to me, and I stepped through it without a second thought.
Once through, I looked at my new surroundings. I was at the Titan's Tower, in their living room, standing dead in the middle of the couch area. Sitting on the couch in front of me were both Raven and Beast Boy, who looked almost angry at my very presence. As if I had interrupted them from something.
"Ah, the Tower. You grow bold in your hiding places, I see. I have news that will undoubtedly interest you, my lord." I exaggerated the last part. It was a little game we had, putting a sour spin on our formalities to show that we did still resent each other. It's how people like us survive having to work together.
Both of their faces were slightly flushed (Raven's was difficult to notice, but the changeling's was not) and I detected a slight hitch in both of their breathing. On top of all that, their hair looked as if it had been quickly finger combed back into place after being messed up. All that, and the fact that they both seemed peeved at my very presence (more so than usual, at least) left me with one conclusion.
"I'm going to be sick. Did I interrupt something between you two? Or, more specifically, nothing between you two?"
Beast Boy's face turned as red as Raven's four eyes, which made an appearance.
"If you must know, we were making out, and I'd prefer to get back to it. If you hurry with your report, you won't have to watch…" she stated rather menacingly.
"Alright, don't have to tell me twice. The League is reducing its efforts in finding you. Turns out, Darkseid is on the brisk of invasion, and they're more worried about him. They've given up hope on using you against him, so I wouldn't expect many visits from them for a while…"
"Oh man…" the green one exclaimed under his breath.
"That's…certainly disturbing. Alright, I'll have to find out more for myself. Take Beast Boy back with you to the Tower; I'll be there on my own shortly…"
"Wait, you're not thinking of doing what I think you're doing, are you?" Beast Boy asked.
She nodded and opened a portal back for us. Before he could get up, she gave his hand a small squeeze (yech!).
We both walked through the portal, and we were right back into my quarters. Before I had a chance to send the changeling away, there was an angry, curt knock before the door slid open. The three Titans stood there with death glares, Robin leading the charge as always.
"Alright, Slade. They may not ask about you past jobs, but we do! Where is…Beast Boy? What are you doing here?" Robin had been furious, but was extremely confused by the end of his tirade.
"…uh…" said changeling froze, leaving me to do the grunt work.
"He had just finished paying me for my services. Kidnappings are not easy ordeals, especially not from the Justice League's Tower. All for a lousy vacation at the beach; was it really worth all that trouble? Anyways, he was just leaving."
Beast Boy played along, and Cyborg and Starfire seemed to accept it. Neither seemed pleased that he made a deal with me, but were happy that he had returned. They departed, and Robin gave me an unsure glare before departing after them. I went to close my door, but before I could I heard Cyborg's arm beep frantically.
"Guys, you need to see this! There's been an alarmed tripped back home…I'm pulling up the security feeds now. All past data has been erased, but I've got live feeds going up…NOW."
Their eyes all went wide (and Beast Boy pretended to be shocked) as they saw who was sitting in their living room, having tea. Raven.
"Cyborg, does the League have these feeds?"
A loud voice came over the intercom of the JL Tower. "Teen Titans, report to the teleporter. Slade Wilson, report to the teleporter."
"Well, I guess that answers that, doesn't it?" I mocked as I ran past them down the hall.
We all arrived to find the League's more powerful, flight-capable, or magically inclined members preparing for teleportation. Batman was barking orders above all of the commotion.
"WE ARE NOT ALLOWING AN ESCAPE THIS TIME! ATTACK ON SIGHT, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY WANT HER ALIVE!"
After a few more moments of chaos, everyone was sent down in teams so that we'd fit. The biggest fighters were sent first, with the weaker ones as backup. We were all on the third and final team which wasn't meant to see combat anyways.
When we arrived in the living room, it had only been thirty second since the first group had gone down, yet it looked as if a war had already been waged. Numerous heroes lay sprawled on the floor unconscious. Every now and then some new hero was flung into a wall, and all of the windows had been shattered. However, the couch remained spotless where Raven and Beast Boy had sat earlier. She must have been keeping it clean for her own sentiment.
When she saw us, she feigned surprise and fear and took to the skies. Starfire grabbed Robin and myself and flew us after her, and Beast Boy took Cyborg; we were joined by at least half of our remaining forces, including all important leadership personnel that had come.
The flight was short, and ended at a location that caused the Titans to gasp (even Beast Boy): the old library, home of ex-Trigon's ex-portal. Raven disappeared inside, and everyone stopped in the main room to regroup.
"I'm still sensing that's she's here! We just need to go underground!" Someone shouted.
"Follow us!" Robin shouted, and he took off for the hidden entrance. It had already been opened, and the decent was not infested with ghosts, much to my dismay. I had had such a good time watching the Titans handle those ghosts last time.
We eventually worked our way down to the portal room. The large had still had a spotlight shining down upon its palm, and in the middle of that light Raven stood with her back to us all. The other four Titans went up to the hand, while everyone else gathered around it, forming another wall around Raven. For a moment, though, the five Titans were allowed to speak without even thinking about everyone watching. For a moment, they were allowed to be their team again.
Without turning around, Raven spoke first.
"I'm tired of this. Tired of running, of being alone. Tired of fighting you. I know that there wasn't a better option, but I still feel like I went wrong somewhere." She started. I'm not sure if she's playing those watching (and the Titans) or if she is using this as a chance to be honest.
"Then you don't have to. We can figure this out; we've done it before. It won't be any different this time." Robin assured her.
Raven turned around, with her eyes slightly more watery than normal. Her gaze was soft and sad, and scared. Scared of what her friends would do, would think. This wasn't the first time she'd had to have come clean to them, but I doubt it makes it any easier.
"It will, Robin. You know it will. It's out of your hands; I don't blame you. I can't blame you. The last time this happened, I was just a portal…his pawn." She took her arm out of her cloak, revealing the red runes that had illuminated along her skin. She tucked her arm back underneath her cloak, again concealing all but her mouth. "But his time, I am him."
Now, she tossed aside her cloak entirely. Her eyes had shifted into four, her skin had turned red, and her canine teeth sharpened until she almost looked vampiric. Her hair turned white, but stayed its original state, and her chakra glowed bright yellow. She had literally turned into her demon self, and it was almost disturbing how similar yet different she looked.
Around the room, everyone tensed, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
"This isn't something we can beat, Robin. This isn't like the last time I said that. There isn't anything we can do but comply, and I won't have my actions held against you."
The Titans, particularly Robin were stunned. There were no words that could express what they felt or thought, and they found themselves at a loss to help. Raven turned her head towards Zatanna, and nodded. In turn, Zatanna went behind Raven and prepared a spell that would knock Raven unconscious.
As Raven's eyes began to close, Beast Boy was there to catch her. The other Titans gathered around, and the last thing she saw was the four faces of her friends.
At least, that's what everyone thought they saw. From the corner of my eye, I saw a slight shifting in the corner as the real Raven phased through the wall. All that was left was for the League to lock up the projection, and then Raven would have free roam throughout the JL Tower.
Raven must have outdid herself. Not even Dr. Fate had the slightest clue they had captured a puppet…