Nightwing awoke first. His serum being slightly less complicated than the empath's. He was lying on the ground next to two cups of water. Raven was lying on her side in front of her chair, still topless but no longer restrained. Nightwing quickly removed his white v-neck striding over to her and draped it over her torso. It wasn't much since the white was clouded with spots of visible sweat and blood, but it was better than nothing.

Fuck, make it stop. That plea. He couldn't stop hearing it. Was it because of what he had been doing to her? The emotions she was feeling during? How would she see him when she awoke?

He ran a hand along her now covered arm and stroked a few locks of stray hair out of her face. Her braid splayed out on the floor in front of her.

Nightwing didn't know how long he sat next to her, but she eventually started murmuring and he pulled her head up to rest on his thigh. Those wide eyes fluttered open seeing Nightwing and then looked down with relief. A small smile.

"Thank you," she muttered. She sat up painfully and held it close to her chest before pulling it on. While it didn't leave anything to the imagination, it was infinitely better than her previous option.

() () ()

Yes, maybe Slade's methods weren't exactly proven, but he'd been to war. He knew that torture worked splendidly with a little bit of hope mixed in. The mind needs a break to repair and remember to function. Endless torment causes an unraveling of another sort which he wasn't going for just yet.

As for what we do next… he might have to change course. Raven seemed more willing to take on his tactics herself but weaker having to watch him play with Nightwing. He felt he could confirm their bond was more than friendly. Perhaps it was one-sided and she'd fallen for her leader. Perhaps it was reciprocated. Either way, she most likely felt she owed him for the life he'd introduced her to and wanted to protect him at all costs. There was an imbalance there that he could exploit.

Irritating was the boy wonder giving up his shirt for her. No matter, he could appreciate all forms of the human body just fine.

Slade leaned on the counter, ankles crossed behind him focused on the monitors. He didn't want to leave them alone just yet as observation was key to his mission. If he missed something to use it would be on him.

Nightwing brought the styrofoam cup of water to Raven. They both peered down with questioning looks on their faces seeming to sniff the liquid.

Slade queued up the microphone and let a short chuckle reverberate through the speaker. "It would be a shame to end what we have only just begun. I'm having a great deal of fun, aren't you two?"

Nightwing, with his ever-enduring hero complex took a small sip…

"Still… I love trying new things."

Raven's eyes widened but immediately narrowed as the chuckle echoed throughout the room. She took a pointed sip while staring at the camera.

"Don't you and your hand have date or something?" She quipped.

"Who says we're not in the middle of it right now?"

"Perfect. Voyeurism is a spicy one to add to an ever-growing rap sheet."

A low growl emitted through the speaker. "Mmm looking forward to expanding my experiences with your help, Little Bird."

Raven sneered in disgust.

"Of course, my door is always open to willing participants, as well."

Nightwing, who had been uncharacteristically quiet finally piped up, his look confident. Almost reasonable. "Look, Slade. I think we can agree that this is taking a lot of needless effort and resources. I'm sure you don't have an endless supply of power-suppressing formula. Just tell us what you're after and I'm sure we can work something out. Immunity from some crime you've done? Help with the procurement of materials? Let's stop these methods. They are low even for you."

"Oh, wonder boy…" Slade's humor disappeared and a condescending tone resurfaced. Nightwing's jaw ticked. "…everyone's always trying to box me in. I'll humor your rather dated view of me. Consider this the start of a new arc in our story. A transition to mooore effectual tactics. After all, I am an innovator."

"With the goal of what?!" Dick voiced his frustrated reply.

"Oh Dick, you haven't figured it out? I'll bet that's difficult for you."

Nightwing blinked but decided not to dignify him with a reply.

Slade observed Raven as she was sitting cross legged next to Nightwing hands on her knees, stoic, staring straight ahead. No doubt probably chanting her mantra inwardly trying to find calm. His eyes slid up the smooth expanse of her thighs beginning to muse about what kind of fabric lay underneath those tiny excuses for shorts. Handling her had felt exhilarating. Although, he hadn't quite processed if there would have been the same thrill without Nightwing watching while also going out of his mind.

He left the control room. Time to let the Slade bots take over for a bit. Maybe he'd consider a date with his hand. He chuckled.

() () ()

This is maddening, Night thought. He'd just watched his best friend be assaulted in horrible ways, all after being forced to perform his own violating act on her. He was not okay. She was not okay. And he didn't know how to fix it. 'Tell me, Nightwing, does the Raven in your dreams enjoy things… rough?' Gods, the anger at Slade, at feeling helpless, it was-

"Dick? Where did you go?"

"I'm just thinking. Slade still watching, you think?"

She cocked her head considering. "I wish I had my full abilities to sense him. I feel blind." She turned her attention to the camera, "Hey, asshole, how long do you think this little game will last? We have things to do back home. You know, protecting the city?!"

Nightwing smirked, pushing the heaviness from his mind yet again. They waited.

"Well, I guess-" Nightwing started.

But he was abruptly thrown back by Raven swiftly rising to her knees and throwing herself into his arms for a fervent hug he was not expecting.

Nightwing recovered from his initial shock and exhaled sharply as if a pressure cooker of tension was finally released. His large arms encircled her small body bringing her closer. She still didn't let go and her heard her sniff.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered into his neck. "…for what he did to you. "

"Raven…" Dick said lowly. His hand started at the small of her back and began small, comforting circles. His voice catching. "I am the one who is sorry. I… couldn't stop him. I tried to… I just couldn't. And earlier… with the knife, I-"

"Dick, shut up. It's okay. It wasn't your choice." she breathed on his neck. Still holding him tightly.

Dick finally regulated his breathing against her while burrowing his face against her hair. His right hand traveling to her neck and the other still drawing circles around her lower back. Yes, he was one of the few friends in her life able to hug the empath without severe repercussions, but he'd never experienced one this close before.

He shut down the part of his mind that wanted to focus other places. Her breasts pressed so close against his bare chest. The heat he felt radiating from her core due to the very little space between them. How very much he wanted his hands wrapped around her fit thighs, hiking them along his waist to push her up against a wal- fuck!

Trauma. That's what to they were experiencing. There was a lot of pent up energy flowing through them wanting to manifest through inappropriate releases. Gods, he felt a mess.

Raven really didn't know exactly why she initiated the hug. She truly would just like to be alone and maybe… cry? Destroy stuff? Nevermore will be a shit show when she finally made it there to process some of this. Her expression of emotions had improved over the years, but this wasn't exactly the ideal setting to be open.

Still, she had needed something. Contact. Had he always felt this big? So very safe? Azar, what a weird thing to focus on. And the way he held me as he cut down my shirt. The strength as he pulled me to him. The anger radiating off of him as Slade taunted him and did stuff to me- Where… the fuck, is this coming from? There's something wrong with me, right?

Dick sighed into Raven's neck and began to slowly disentangle their limbs. He took hold of both her biceps as she pulled away to stabilize her since she had been leaning into him hard. Was there a hint of a blush across her cheeks as she righted herself and fixed her clothing?

His mind flashed back to the swell of her chest against his hand as he cut- …he shook his head. Oh gods, he could not keep thinking like this. Of her like this.

"That was… needed," Dick said carefully. Giving her a small smirk glancing down at the floor and then back to her.

Raven's eyes widened. Relieved to hear it.

"You almost got free, didn't you?" She looked down and delicately took his bloodied wrists in her hands inspecting them. "It might have been the only reason he stopped. I could sense he was panicking."

Nightwing thoughts snapped back to Slade. The way he forced his mouth on hers, commanded her movements. Her lips swollen as he pulled away. His hands running down her body and molding her however he wanted, like she belonged to him. He could feel the rage returning… and… something else? Fuck, was this jealousy? Raven didn't' belong to anyone, nor would she ever, so why this strong reaction? Yes, there was undeniable attraction, but he was merely being protective of his friend, right? His lips now a thin line and his brow furrowed. A gentle, pale hand climbed to his face interrupting the spiral. He turned his cheek into the touch.

"Dick, if I know you, please don't do that. Don't go where you're heading. There will be a time for processing and-"

The sound of a steel door unlatching caused both birds to shoot up into a fighting stance.

"Fucking bots!" Nightwing exclaimed. "Maybe we can disarm or destroy them!"

Raven looked frantically around for any usable weapon. The room was devoid of anything not attached to a wall or the floo- wait, the extra chair.

"Nightwing, chair!"

Dick spun around towards the chair, seizing it and bounding in front of the empath, he held it ready to strike. A shiny Slade-bot had entered with a dart gun clasped in each of its mechanical arms. While they certainly weren't sentient, it seemed to pause and think that maybe it needed backup. A second bot rolled in behind it, and began approaching Dick, a taser gun in each arm.

Well, this is a new development. Dick advanced forward using the chair as a battering ram to test the bot's strength. As he smashed against it, his body took quite an impact, confirming it was substantially sturdy. He backed up as it proceeded to chase him.

Raven, in the meantime was trying to keep dart bot busy, dodging each one projected her way. So far, she was successfully evading it, hoping to deplete its supply.

Nightwing continued taking tactical hits at taser bot and managed to damage the wiring in one of its arms causing a short circuit.

The dart bot seemed to realize the error of its ways and turned its attention from Raven to the other bird, advancing on Nightwing in a two-against-one battle. Dick was ready. A dart flew through the air and was promptly blocked by the chair Nightwing held, but as he raised his arms to do so, he left his torso open for taser bot.

In a matter of seconds, Dick's crumpled body was lying tased on the ground as the other bot with the dart approached to inject him for good measure.

Raven looked on in horror from the middle of the room hoping to come to Dick's aid, when her head was viciously yanked back by her braid, causing a shriek of pain. Her body hit something hard. Fuck, she hadn't been watching her entry points during the commotion. In an instant, a cold gloved hand clamped across her chest, restraining her arms, the other controlling her head by her hair. "Sometimes … you've just gotta do things yourself," he drawled in her ear. She struggled for a brief moment against him but stopped when he began pulling her tightly against his growing excitement. A small whimper escaped as the hand around her hair moved over her mouth instead.

"Ahh, finally alone," he breathed into her neck. "Let's get better…" He adjusted his grip across her chest to a bruising grasp of her waist. "…acquainted." Roughly, he pivoted their bodies so hers was against a nearby wall, slamming her head in the process. His lower body pressing her hips deep into it while she desperately fought to keep him from gaining control of her arms. She'd be helpless if he restrained them. She sent a strong elbow jab into his neck causing a slight recoil so his hips let up the pressure on hers. She sent a knee powerfully into his thigh so he stumbled. Slipping away from him she couldn't help a smirk. Dick would be proud.

Catching her breath, she bounded quickly away from the villain.

"The chase is part of the fun, darling."

"Sorry, not interested," she growled, picking up the fallen chair Nightwing had been using prior.

"I wasn't asking," Slade's tone dripped with intent. He pulled something from his belt slamming it on the floor.

In seconds, the air was filled with smoke and the empath crouched low, covering her face with her shirt trying to stifle the coughs welling up in her chest. Raven stumbled across the room to find a corner where it wasn't as thick, but still far from Slade.

While she did manage to find suitable breathing room, her celebration was short-lived when a cruel hand wrapped around her neck, the chair clattering from her hands to the floor. Slade used his free hand to gather her arms behind her. No! Not again. She fought violently.

"I could snap this right here, you know," he reminded her, enjoying the feel of her fruitless struggle. He was driving her body towards the wall. Her breathing became gasping as she tried to get adequate air. He began lifting her off the ground in front of him.

She took the opportunity to swing her legs backwards with a powerful kick before he could adjust, dropping her to the ground with a grunt. "Mm, crafty witch," he choked out.

Raven caught herself in a crouch, heart beating loudly in her chest, still gulping for more air. She managed to put some distance between her and Slade. He gathered himself, stood, and cracked his neck back and forth beginning to stalk forward. Raven looked around frantically for anything she could use, any weaknesses to exploit, plus trying to avoid dart bot scurrying around the room trying to complete its task. She observed taser bot had put Nightwing's body in a new position against a wall. He looked like he was breathing, at least, but still out cold. She ran to each closed door, a glance back at Slade each time. Again, trying desperately to call on any power she could. Slade was getting close but haste didn't seem to concern him.

"Raven, I could keep going with this little ring-around-the-rosie thing, but I'd much prefer to reserve my energies for other activities."

Raven paused and caught her breath, keeping the bolted down chair between them. "Ha, since your taste seems to be non-con, the entire city is eligible. Congrats."

"On the contrary, Princess," the nickname heavily enunciated, hand on his cocked hip. "I think you enjoy the thrill I provide. That feeling of being desired against your will. A lot of you superheroes do."

"How many more should we add to your rap sheet, Slade?" Raven's tone oozed with disdain, feeling more and more disgusted with the subject matter.

Slade sighed and looked over abruptly at the door. Raven turned to look for the dart bot, only to turn back to Slade, seeing the gun in his hand, and feeling the dart pierce her shoulder. Azar, she'd fucking fallen for it.

Slade raced over as she began to stumble away, trying to put any barrier between them but her limbs betrayed her. The villain caught her body in its process of collapsing, as if they were finishing a dance. Her eyes glaring up into his (or where they would be), "Welcome to my rap sheet, Raven." She scowled.

"Go to hell," she muttered. Sounding weaker than she expected as the drugs began their effect. His hand held her face drifting down the side of her body, savoring every curve and muscle in its path to then abruptly stop as her weak hand raised up to slap him. He caught it in a steel grip. "Sweet dreams, Gem."

Mercifully, everything went dark.