Ohayo Everyone! Thanks for all the reviews I really appreciate them! I'm not going to make this as a rae/bb I promise rae/rob all the way :) Actually it was just a thought because I used to really like rae/bb but never as much as rae/rob… but anyway you all said you don't mind rae/slade… hmm… that pairing is really weird to me I'm not much of a fan. I tried reading a couple of fics about them I mean I read one or two good ones but I'm not completely sold yet. Regardless, this will still be a rae/rob most definitely. I'm only flirting with the idea of other pairings for my other fans.
Disclaimer: Like I've said over and over I don't own the Teen Titans or anything related to it other than this fic.
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Confining a Raven
Chapter VI: The Encounter
Flashback:
Nightwing was aggravated.
He sat in his dimly lit room vigilantly flipping through pages of a manila colored file on his desk. He gave up trying to sleep. It's not that he didn't want to his mind wouldn't let him. It had been a year since he stopped having that nightmare… but now it was back. Actually, this was the second night in a row… as if he already didn't have problems sleeping. Instead of wasting time trying to figure out why the dreams came back he decided to fill this time searching for Slade.
Weeks had passed since he found his last lead, which only led him to a dead end. And now he was stuck. He didn't know where to go from there. Sighing, Nightwing slouched back in his chair from exhaustion. Ticking. Looking up he noticed the clock read 6:18 am. He couldn't believe he wasted the whole night and ended up with nothing. Grumbling, he turned in his chair to watch the alien girl sleeping peacefully in his bed, occasionally snoring.
Sleep.
How it mocked him. As tempting as it was he knew he couldn't. First he needed to figure out where Slade would possibly leave another clue. Something that would at least put him back on his trail. Suddenly, a sharp light flickered into his masked eyes catching his attention. There was a faint glare from the sunlight hitting an old metallic picture frame.
The team
He picked up the picture tracing his gloved hands along the edge of it. Cyborg and Beast boy were on each end grinning as Starfire floated above them smiling brightly. He stood in the middle clad in his old uniform with a smug look on his face and arms crossed.
Finally his fingers stopped at the face of the young gothic member, Raven. He remembered he had to force her to take this picture. She stood right next to him arms crossed as well with her hood down. A small smile graced her thin lips, although, she would never admit it. He missed those days. When everyone was together and nothing really mattered. It was naïve of them to think it would last forever. But most of all he missed her.
Beep Beep
Beep Beep
Nightwing flinched from surprise dropping the picture frame and hearing it smash. His phone rang obnoxiously. Hastily, he tried to pick it up the frame but instead a shard slit his gloved hands. Sighing, he took out his ringing cell phone and read the number 'Unavailable' which annoyed him further. Who would call him this early in the morning?
"Hello?" he hissed harshly.
"…"
"Hello!" He snapped in frustration slightly louder. He looked over his shoulder and saw the alien girl shuffling in the satin covers from his voice.
"Is this how you greet an old friend?" the voice on end deadpanned.
"Batm—… I mean Bruce!" Nightwing nearly toppled over in shock.
"Hello Dick"
"Why are you—?"
"I hear you're in Gotham on business… should I expect a visit soon?"
"No, we're not planning on staying here long. Actually I'm doing some undercover work here"
"I see so you brought a friend along too…"
"Don't worry; it's nothing the 'Dark Knight' needs to get involved with."
"Who said I was worried?" Nightwing could already see the smirk on his face, "By the way your new alias 'Nightwing'… how… befitting" he confirmed almost sounding as if he was teasing him. Then again, Bruce never joked or even teased at that.
"Was that the only reason you called" Nightwing snapped catching onto his little act.
"I have a favor to ask of you"
"Can it wait? I mean I'm in the middle of an important—"
"I'm sure this will be of interest to you"
"…" He pondered that statement for a moment.
He trusted Bruce.
And knew he wouldn't use him.
Therefore, if he said it was important then it must have been very important to seek him out, "Well what is it?" he finally gave in reluctantly.
"There's a new lowlife arising in Bludhaven. He eliminated the others and is now trying to fabricate a lethal organization. I would handle it myself but I get the slight feeling he's not after me. Then I heard you were in town…"
"What makes you so sure he's after me?"
"He left an unusual symbol embedded on the side of a building last night… as if he's trying to appeal to someone. I'm sending you a copy of the photo right now. I haven't seen anything like it… tell me if it means anything to you." Nightwing tried to absorb the new information. Slowly, he walked over to his fax machine waiting for the picture to finish printing.
Starfire finally arose with a blaring yawn from their conversation. Sitting up she eyed him confused as to who he was speaking with this early. His features were tired and drained so she figured he probably pulled an all nighter again even after they had spent the night together. Slightly frustrated she decided not to interrupt him considering how serious and fixated he was with the fax machine. However, he turned noticing her staring at him confused. He smiled and nodded her off as if signaling he'd explain everything to her later. She hated being left out but what could she do.
She took this time to roll out of bed dragging the black covers with her. She wrapped her naked form heading towards the shower. Yawning again she walked right past him now spotting the broken picture frame on the floor. A small frown appeared on her face. She steadily picked it up noticing small blood droplets smeared on it, mainly on the gothic girls' face. Worriedly, she turned to Nightwing to find him frozen in utter shock. He stared at the piece of paper in hand analyzing every detail.
"I'll take care of it" he whispered into the phonebefore hanging up.
"Is there something wrong?" Starfire inquired. However, Nightwing didn't respond. He stared at the picture in question one last time before revealing it to her. There was an immense gothic print 'S' symbol blazing in fire on the side of a dark building. The building itself was in flames crumbling to the ground as if it were made of sand. In the far corner stood a dark figure watching it ablaze—as if admiring its work.
"Déjà vu all over again huh?" He finally broke the silence. Starfire only nodded in response still in shock too, "…we'll be leaving in an hour"
End of Flashback
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"Star, can you see them" A husky voice whispered into the communicator.
"Yes. I see four of them… and they have one hostage. It seems to be a woman though I am not certain" the alien girl flew above the museums skylight. She hid in the darkness as her eyes glowed an intense green watching them closely from the distance.
"This is the fourth time this month we ran into a group of them" The voice continued whispering from beyond the headphones, "Who would have thought we'd find them here too in Bludhaven as if they're after us". Starfire focused her gaze, critically watching the group of men in disgust as they carried the tied hostage, "Yes I believe so"
"This has to be Slade's doing" it was undeniable.
There were four men each clad in black jumpsuits. Their faces were hidden by a metallic orange mask with a featureless black half. They had already disabled the alarm system and ransacked the museum taking anything in site. One man hauled a cloaked hostage out of the building while the others carried artifacts in hand.
Finally, Nightwing stood up from his hidden spot along the museum. Peering off the edge of the building he thoroughly analyzed each individual through his night vision mask. He had a clear view of their van and studied the men all the while. They exited the building finally finished loading up their cargo and carelessly tossed the woman in the back.
"Star you ready"
"Mhm" She nodded before flying down behind him.
Hastily he jumped off the side of the building somersaulting to the ground, "Drop it before we drop you!"
The group of men swiftly turned their attention to the newcomers and drew their guns. They didn't hesitate to pull their triggers. The two rashly dodged the bullets jumping into their defensive stances.
"I guess you don't need time to reconsider" Nightwing drew his bo staff. (A/N: I know Nightwing doesn't have a bo staff anymore but I thought it would be so cool if his bo staff could alter to his escrima sticks)
One of the men jumped high into the air behind Starfire about to tackle her. Promptly, she turned around as if sensing him and punched him full force into the cement wall. The sound of bones cracking could be heard from the impact. However, he stood up indifferent from the damage and plunged after her. By this time, Nightwing had already thrown an explosive causing him to come crashing into the wall again. He was rendered unconscious.
There were three men left—one guarded the cargo while the others surrounded the two Titans. The masked men drew their pistols again. They figured they couldn't win in a hand to hand combat so this was their best shot. Starfire and Nightwing backed up against each other as the men circled them. They followed lead circling them too instead trying to anticipate the next attack.
"Starfire, Go!" Nightwing shrilled at the alien girl. She flashed high into the sky dashing for the van. Gun shots were fired but barely grazed her skin.
Before he knew it, Nightwing was being rushed. Instantly, he assumed his stance preparing for their attack. The first attacker rushed him while the other moved around attempting a strike from behind. He leapt back elbowing the attacker in the neck. His windpipe cracked. The masked man was knocked over, coughing up blood. Immediately, Nightwing sidestepped the first man and took his arm twisting it until he heard a 'snap!' The man dropped in agony. A swift fist to his neck and he was knocked out cold.
Meanwhile, Starfire still pursued the last man. Shots blazed at her. She circled around him rapidly dodging the bullets. Counterattacking with starbolts, the bullets ended up disintegrating by contact. At last, the man ran out of ammo. Starfire took this opportunity to soar down in a bolt of energy. He readied himself for the impact refusing to retreat. She rapidly increased her speed dealing her final beam of energy. The man collapsed.
She flew down next to Nightwing both gasping for air, "We… are… victorious!"
All the men lay scattered along the concrete either unconscious or nearing death. Nightwing paced over to the van finding the hostage lying limp on her side. Impulsively, he picked up the woman carrying her out to safety. He laid her on the concrete slowly unbinding the ropes around her body. She slightly struggled as if trying to help him. Starfire stood back cautiously. She didn't know how to help so she kept guard.
"Are you okay?" He tugged at the black cloak.
Without warning, he was greeted with a sharp dagger plunged deep in his right shoulder. Nightwing leapt back screeching in pain. The peculiar woman lunged backwards away from the two landing on her knees.
"Nightwing!" Starfire dived for his fallen body.
Grabbing his gapping shoulder he staggered back trying to make distance from the woman, "Stay back! This was a trap"
The woman stood up briskly yanking her dark cloak off. Underneath she wore a skin tight black jumpsuit with the same orange and black mask. Her attire was slightly similar to the men that attacked them earlier but instead her chest held an "S" symbol engraved on it. Gradually, she took a step towards the two raising the dagger in awe as the blood slithered down the side.
"I've been waiting for you, Robin… or do you prefer 'Nightwing' now" she droned.
"…" Nightwing edged away taking his stance.
"You always have to be the hero… that's why it was so easy luring you here" There was no mistaking it, this was a trap and he walked right into it. He let his guard down and reaped the consequences. She taunted him with her impassive voice, although, it was oddly familiar. He couldn't see her face but he was sure she studied his movements.
They locked eyes.
"Don't be so humble… really you're not that great…" She took another step forward now swaying the dagger at her side.
Anger.
"Who are you?" he growled.
"For now… let's just say an old friend"
"Please if we are friends then I do not wish to fight. Why do you attack us?" Starfire pleaded stepping forward.
"…" the woman didn't reply.
"Why do you send these things to harm us" she now motioned towards the men on the ground.
The woman glimpsed at the unconscious men sprawled around them. She raised a hand as if motioning at one. Incredibly, one of the men was engulfed in black energy levitating above the ground. He moved towards the two Titans still lifeless taking a stance, "I have my reasons…"
"Starfire stay back!" Nightwing jolted her away.
"I refuse to let her harm you again!" she held her stance.
"Tell me…do you always send your girlfriend to fight your battles Boy Blunder?.. How pathetic" the woman scoffed.
"…What did you just call me?" the last comment caught him off guard.
Without answering the woman swayed her hand and the man leapt at the pair. Nightwing again drew his bo staff and blocked the attack; however, he struggled due to his injury. The two men were neck and neck. The black energy increased thrusting him lower onto one knee. Shifting positions, Nightwing lunged the man back towards the woman. She sidestepped and dodged the fallen body.
"Who are you and why are you working for Slade?" he demanded.
"…Slade?" her confusion would have sound believable if she wasn't attacking them, "I don't know who you're talking about"
"Don't lie!"
"You're not worth my lies" she edged towards them again, "Right now this 'Slade' character should be the least of your worries"
Starfire took this opportunity to fire an array of starbolts. Raising her free hand the woman made a black energy shield protecting herself. Repeating her attacks faster and with more intensity, Starfire finally cracked her barrier grazing her mask. The woman remained impassive but instead possessed the van and flung it at her. The alien girl wasn't fast enough and was slammed through the museum window.
Almost instantly, the woman teleported behind Nightwing. She swung her arms and two men charged at him from either sides. Thoughtlessly, he flipped backwards still clutching his gushing shoulder and blocked their attacks. From his standpoint he had the battle already figured out. The men were mere puppets; all he needed to focus on was their master. He threw an explosive at the woman breaking her concentration. Luckily, she flipped backwards dodging it but in the process lost control of the men. They fell limp back onto the floor.
Fairly bewildered, she took her stance as if telling him to attack her. However, Nightwing didn't fall for this. He saw the blade behind her back and as if on cue she chucked it at him. Not even waiting for it to land she dashed for him. Nightwing began to fight for his life. He swung his bo staff desperately as if they were in the middle of a waltz. His vision blurred from his loss of blood so he followed her lead. Behind them, he saw Starfire begin to move. He would have shouted for her to stay where she was, but he had no breath to speak. Starfire swung at the woman firing a massive beam. And she was successful. Catching her off guard the woman faltered briefly tumbling to her side. She turned her attention to Starfire with white eyes glaring death rays at her.
"I'm done playing games" her voice mounted, "Azarath… Metrion… Zinthos!" Slashing her arm through the air a black claw rose from the ground. It clasped the alien girl's body mid air as she cringed in pain. The woman clenched her fist tight and slammed it down to the cement. And as if a chain reaction Starfire's body was bashed into the concrete unconscious.
Nightwing watched the scene in horror. Hastily he dived at the figure in her moment's weakness and slammed her into the wall. Her body slid down to the ground in a limp pile. Before she could regain her footing he managed to pin her down by the neck with his heavy foot. She cringed in pain. Coughing up blood she grasped his boot trying to remove it. She couldn't breathe.
"I don't know what you are but I know that mantra anywhere… I suggest you tell me who you are now!" Nightwing spoke deadly.
"…" she refused to answer and continued to struggle.
He applied more pressure threateningly. Swiftly, he reached for her mask and as much as she tried to resist it was too late. Nightwing froze. Long violet hair dispersed across the ground in a heap. Matching violet eyes pierced his soul. He stood there flabbergasted. The luminous eyes that haunted his dreams every night stared back as cold as fire.
"….R-raven" He whispered. Before he knew it, she lashed out with her foot connecting with his unsuspecting knee.
He fell.
Hard.
His body ached. The air was knocked out of his lungs and he laid there dazed as if in a trance. He didn't know what to think… was this real? Had he really been fighting Raven all along or was this another dream. If so, he wanted to wake up now. Though, the pain coursing through his body proved otherwise. Or maybe Slade made a clone of her. This was too surreal he didn't know what to think.
Although his vision was blurred, there was no mistaking it—this was an exact replica of Raven… but more mature. He watched her afraid that if he blinked she would disappear. Her petite curvaceous body swayed towards him with a slight limp. The moonlight hit her pale skin causing it to radiate mystically. Her long violet hair cascaded over her shoulders in a tranquil wave. Everything about her perplexed him.
"Long time no see, Robin… though this will be the last time you'll ever face me" her silky voice spoke callously. Her words burned him as hot as ice. She bent down to retrieve her dagger and crept towards him.
"H-how..?" Nightwing slowly dragged away.
"How?" she abruptly stopped, "You mean how I escaped that building you left me in… I find it amusing that you of all people would ask me that." She thrust her boot in his side knocking him into the brick wall.
"I-it was an accident—!" he winced in pain collapsing onto his side.
"An accident? Yes… it was an accident that you didn't get the job done in the first place" Raven now towered above him promptly raising the said dagger, "And now I'll make sure you regret it!"
He braced for the impact… but it never came.
"My my… why so hasty Raven" a stark voice slithered through their ears.
Nightwing looked up to see a very familiar villain before him, 'Slade' his mind screamed. Even if he changed his uniform he would never forget that sickening voice.
The man grasped the beautiful woman's arm in his hand nonchalantly. Slowly, she released the dagger and retreated to his side. His eyes never left her figure. He raised a hand to her chin pulling her closer, "The hate within your eyes really warms my heart my dear" he smirked.
Instead she scoffed smacking his hands off and turned away, "Why did you stop me" she seethed.
"He may still be useful"
"What do you mean he's still useful? What happened to the original plan!" her eyes flickered a deadly red lowering her voice.
"What kind of sick games are you playing Slade…?" Nightwing finally spoke up. They looked up to see him leaned against the wall face distorted in pain and disgust.
"Oh? I almost forgot to reacquaint myself Nightwing… let me reintroduce you to my precious gem 'The Crow'. Though, you might remember her as your early departed Raven"
"Impossible! Raven died years ago"
"Unfortunate for you I'm still alive" she glowered at his weak form.
"If you really are Raven why would you work for Slade? Especially after everything he did to you and our friends?" Nightwing challenged her with the same intensity.
"This 'Slade' has done nothing to me except accept me for who I am…"
"How could you be so blind!" he shrilled in exasperation.
"So you refuse to face the facts and believe your own eyes?" Deathstroke interjected. Nightwing could tell he was testing him and refrained from answering.
"Your name really is 'Slade'?" Raven spoke up slightly confused.
"Slade was an old alias of mines a lifetime ago…" his voice dragged.
"And you were planning on telling me this when?" she deadpanned slightly offended.
"I will only inform you of what's necessary"
"And what gives you the right to decide what that is—!" Before she could finish her statement a green bolt of fire came hurling at them. Instinctively, the two dodged it almost rhythmically.
"I demand that you retreat now!" the alien princess guarded her fallen comrade. She held her defiant stance as her eyes glowed an intense green.
"I don't think you're in the position to be making demands" Raven seethed somewhat annoyed.
"I do not care if you share the same face as my dear friend… you are NOT Raven!"
"You little—" However, in the last second the two titans became obscure and distorted through a thick sheet of smoke. When it finally dissipated they were gone.
"I can still sense them. They haven't gotten far" Raven finally spoke up but Deathstroke was already retreating.
"Leave them… they will be back"
"You had this planned all along didn't you…?" She droned but he was already gone.
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Ring Ring Ring
Ring Ring
"After two long years now you decide to call us" Cyborg scoffed lounging back in his seat.
"FRIENDS! We are in need of your help!" the voice came blazing over the other end.
"Whoa! Starfire you have to calm down what's wrong?" he nearly fell over.
"It's Nightwing he's been hurt" she exclaimed brimming on the edge of tears.
"How bad is it?" his voice became serious.
"It doesn't look well… 'sniff… we were trapped by Slade… and friend Raven is alive!"
"WHAT?"
"I am not sure. It looks like Raven but she is not the same"
"Don't worry, just tell me where you are and we'll be there to help."
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Dun dun dunnn lol yay another chapter down and much more to come. This was so difficult to write I didn't know it would be that hard to write an action chapter—it took a toll on me. But lately I've been distracted… there's this guy and lol well you know… oh and I've been drawing lately. If you want to see some of my pictures go on my deviant art page there's a link on my profile. It's not the best but I think it came out okay. If you like my pictures I can take requests and draw anything out of my story and post it for you, I'll even color it. Well that's enough from me please review and tell me what you think or even give me some ideas.