Into the Depths – Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four
Betrayal

June 20th, 2009. Saturday, 10:08 pm.

“What…” whispered Dick. He felt the girl beside him pull back, her hand slipping away. He looked back at her. Raven was shaking her head, her eyes locked onto Slade.

“Is that…” whispered Cyborg, his eyes hardening.

What the heck was Slade doing here looking like that? Why was he saying the same, exact thing Terra had said? This had to be a joke, a sick terrible joke. It wasn’t some fake. There was no doubt in Dick’s mind, that was Slade. He knew the man’s voice all too well, had grown to care and love that voice all too much. So, why? Why? Why was this happening?!

Raven’s hand tightened around his. “Dick,” she whispered. “He bears the mark.”

Whatever that meant, Dick was pretty sure it wasn’t good.

Starfire and Beast Boy looked at Dick, appearing confused. Cyborg looked furious, with a mixture of satisfaction and understanding. Dick wanted to smack that look right off the teen’s face, but he couldn’t. He felt the confusion too much. No matter how much he wanted to explain this away, it didn’t change the fact that Slade was standing in front of them, bearing the Mark of Scath – just like Raven.

A chill slid down Dick’s back. Slade jumped down, effortlessly landing from a two story height. The man strode toward them.

“Rob, are you seeing this?” asked Cyborg, in a low voice. “Are you seeing the obvious here? You’re our leader. What do we do?”

“Don’t move,” commanded Slade. “I’m here for…” There was a pause. “I’m here for the… portal.

Agony.

The feeling tore through his heart like a ravenous beast of the deep. Dick shook his head, not truly understanding what was happening here. As the man stepped forward, Dick pulled back. He could feel it, even from a distance. Slade was intent on getting to Raven.

“Titans…” whispered Dick, taking another step back, pushing Raven behind himself. His mind snapped with one thought, the only logical thought that came to this man: “Run!”

Slade stiffened at the command, while the others looked confused for a moment.

“RUN!” shouted Dick, pulling back. “Beast Boy, help Raven!

Beast Boy immediately transformed, roaring viciously. In his werebeast form, he grabbed Raven with one arm, curling her protectively to his chest, and used his free arm to bolt into a galloping run. As Dick ran after the two of them, Starfire flew forward, flying in front of him as he ran.

“Why are we running away?” cried Starfire. Cyborg snorted from beside them.

“I–I don’t know! It seemed like a good idea!”

“Oh, please, Robin!” snapped Cyborg. “It’s obvious! That’s Deathstroke. That’s not some random enemy. That’s Slade, your stupid, so called father!”

Starfire gasped, just as Dick clenched his eyes shut briefly. No, there had to be a logical explanation for this. There had to be. This was some ridiculous training technique Slade was pulling for the team. Yeah, that had to be it. There was no way Slade would have anything to do with Trigon, the most dangerous enemy the world had ever known.

Right. This was training.

Nonetheless, Dick didn’t want to lose.

Just in case…

“Starfire, Cyborg, we’ll hold him off,” shouted Dick, tearing his shirt off over his head as he ran, not once pausing through it. “Beast Boy, hide with Raven. Protect her at all costs! Don’t let anyone or anything take her away.”

‘You’re fooling yourself if you think my master can’t find her.’

“Shut up,” shouted Dick, out loud. He received an odd look from Cyborg, but he ignored it. He gritted his teeth.

You just keep your crap to yourself. You’re a fake. You’re nothing. So, just keep your mouth shut. I haven’t got time for you.

There was a deriding chuckle, but silence reigned.

Dick focused his attention elsewhere. He wasn’t about to let this creature twist words in his head. He wasn’t going to listen. He wasn’t going to believe it – it was obviously a liar. Instead, Dick glanced over at Starfire, who, in midflight, looked over at him. He could see the fear and confusion there, prevalent throughout her features.

It wasn’t helpful, whatsoever, for Dick’s nerves.

A large part of his mind was telling him something was off, that this was real – all too horribly real – that this wasn’t some training event, but all the while, Dick’s heart denied it. It couldn’t be more than just spontaneous training.

Please, it can’t be more…

Dick skidded to a stop. He sliced through his jeans, knowing Wintergreen would have a fit later. Ah, well. He easily pulled the fabric away, leaving him in his full suit, without the armor, however. The werebeast stopped briefly, but Dick motioned him forward. “Beast Boy, just keep going. Protect her.” Then, Dick glanced at the two at his sides. “We’re gonna fight him, all right, guys?” he said, slowly forming a stance. He bit his lower lip as he watched Slade quickly approach them. “Just don’t hurt him, okay?”

Yeah, it had sounded ridiculous in his head, too.

Cyborg powered up his cannon and pointed it at Slade. “Oh, I’m gonna hurt him.”

Dick couldn’t stop chewing on his lower lip. Starfire lowered to the ground and came to his side, placing a hand onto his shoulder.

“Dick… Are you—”

“I’m fine, Star,” whispered Dick. “This is just… training. Dad’s doing a surprise training…”

“This ain’t training, Rob, and you know it.”

He’s wrong. He’s wrong; he has to be wrong!

As Slade neared, Dick took a deep breath. Then, his stance tensed. A cry rose within his throat, “Titans, go!”

The three of them clashed against Slade. Cyborg was liberal with his cannon and his fists, while Starfire tossed starbolt after starbolt at them. It was all too apparent that the man wasn’t going to hold back. Slade expertly dodged every blow that came his way. Dick hadn’t seen this man for quite some time and it was truly impressive to see; unfortunately, this wasn’t the situation Dick would’ve liked it to be in.

But as the battle continued, Dick noticed something off in the fight. Slade appeared to be going after the other two first, no matter Dick’s efforts to get close. Finally, Dick intervened in the fight and blocked the man. He waited for a counterblow, obviously in the way now. His body tensed, his stance stiffened, all the while waiting.

It never came.

The balance of the fight changed. Slade hesitated, something he never did, shifting his weight on his feet. Dick faltered, the surprise by this unusual action offsetting for him. Then, Slade bypassed him completely, once again going after one of the others. Dick whirled his head back, staring at the man’s back.

No…

No, this was training…

He wouldn’t…

As Dick watched Cyborg engage the man in a fight, Slade didn’t hold back. The man wasn’t holding back his punches. This wasn’t the same movement during training. This was real. The man was here for real. Slade aimed to win.

Horror poured through Dick.

He bolted forward. Cyborg blasted a powerful wave of his cannon at Slade, but it was dodged. Dick rushed forward, just as Slade pulled back a strike to punch the older teen. Dick halted right in between them. Slade froze mid-punch, stopping just in time from hitting Dick in the face.

Dick held out his arms, staring directly in that grey blue eye.

Slade maneuvered around him.

“No!” screamed Dick, the realization rising even more in his soul. He blocked the man again, his arms outstretched. “Stop,” he whispered, dropping his tone.

The man’s face was hidden behind that horrible mask. Dick wanted to see the emotions there. He wanted to see what expression lay there. He wanted to rip that hideous metal obstruction right off that face! He wanted to see his father’s face. He wanted to know why there was only impassive aggressiveness to the man’s movements, when that steel eye writhed with terrible emotion.

Slade avoided him again. It only reiterated to Dick that this was his Slade, his father, the man who had become so much to him. When would the old Slade avoid a fight with a wiry teen? When would he avoid a fight with anyone, when he could dominate all? It only meant one thing.

Slade knew what he was doing.

Dick intervened once again, blocking Slade from attacking Cyborg. There was an irritated huff of air from the older teen as Dick interrupted their fight.

“Stop this,” demanded Dick, his chest heaving as his heart flared with emotion. “Now, what’s going on?” he asked, his voice going soft. “Why are you doing this? What aren’t you telling me?”

The man’s visible eye narrowed, the muscle clenching around it. “Don’t interfere. Stand aside.”

“And let you fight my friends and let you take Raven?” asked Dick, his voice rising. “You know me better than that.”

That grey blue light darkened.

“Then, you know… When I have an objective, I will not back down.”

Slade bolted forward. Dick faltered again, frozen to the spot. Objective? Was the man really doing this? Was he really fighting them? Just why was he doing this? There had to be a reason—a logical explanation for this!

His mind flashed through recent past moments. He could remember how soft Slade had been with Joey and Rose, how kind he’d been to Dick afterward. That was Slade. That kind man, that was the true Slade. Dick knew the man had darker sections of his heart, he knew that. But that darkness didn’t make Slade who he was.

They couldn’t be lies. No one could fake such softness that well.

Slade targeted Cyborg first. Starfire was in the air, now looking torn, to the point of being paralyzed in action. Dick gritted his teeth and withdrew his bō-staff. He was not going to let this go on. No more hesitation.

Before Slade could reach Cyborg again, Dick forced the man into action, blocking him with the staff. There was a clang as another staff instantly appeared, connecting with it. Dick heard a huff of air from behind the mask.

“Why won’t you do as I say?” snapped Slade.

“I’m stubborn,” said Dick, tense as he breathed inaudible, heavy breaths – every one taken in the effort to hold off the blazing emotions in his heart. “Just like my father.”

The pain intensified one hundred fold in the man’s eye.

“Just tell me what’s going on,” whispered Dick, as they stood there, unmoving, their staffs trembling. “Just tell me. I’ll listen. I promise.”

Come on. There has to be a reason why you’re acting like this.

“I already did.”

With a swift movement, Dick’s staff was thrown out of his grasp. There was a raging cry from Cyborg, before a blast of his cannon whooshed past Dick, missing Slade by inches. Dick dropped to his knees, confusion flooding over his mind. When? When had Slade mentioned something like this? The man wasn’t making any sense! He never mentioned anything like this.

No!

He couldn’t stay down. He had to get up. He had to fight. Slade was serious. Slade was seriously going after Raven. Dick had to protect her. He was the leader of the Teen Titans. He had to help. They all had to stop Slade or else something bad was going to happen.

But…

If they hadn’t been able to stop Slade before, what made Dick think they had a sliver of a chance now?

But the longer he screamed at himself to get up and join the fight, the longer he begged his heart to forget and get up, he found that his legs wouldn’t obey him. He faced an all too frightening reality, one he knew all along, but hoped he would never have to find out.

He couldn’t do it.

“Get up, Robin!” shouted Cyborg.

But that wasn’t his name any more. There was no answer to it any more, no call to honor that name, no chains binding him down. Robin, the Boy Wonder, didn’t exist any more – more than ever now – and as much as Dick Grayson knew that, he never truly understood how much his life had changed in less than one year.

He didn’t want it to go back.

He wanted to bury his head in the sand. He wanted this to go away. It had to be a dream. He was sleeping. This was one of those nightmares. It had to be. Death was different than betrayal. Surely not. Surely Slade wasn’t doing that. Surely the man wasn’t going back on his word.

Please… I need him. I never wanted it to end.

Was life so determined to take everything Dick cared about away from him, after all?

“You know,” hissed Cyborg, turning his attention onto Slade. Obviously, Robin wasn’t going to be any help. “I’ve been dying for a real fight with you.” He slammed his fist into his hand. “I’m gonna put you down finally. The others might’ve trusted you, but I always knew.”

There was a pause.

“It’s not going to be much of a fight.”

“Oh, yes, it is!” shouted Cyborg. He lunged forward, but was instantly dodged. The cannon on his arm powered up. It blasted at Slade, who evaded it with ease yet again.

Cyborg growled, furious at Robin for just sitting there. Help would’ve been nice. Even Starfire was torn now. Just why were they acting so shocked? Had Robin really been that naive all this time? Really? This was Robin, the Boy Wonder. He had been Batman’s partner. He had to have seen hard things. Cyborg had known Robin had formed some kind of attachment to Slade, but this was ridiculous. Slade was a bonafided liar. He had him going there for a moment, but beneath it all, somehow, Cyborg had known the truth.

And once he took Slade down – to the man’s very knees, begging for mercy for ruining what they’d once had – Cyborg was going to pull Robin back up out of the darkness and make him understand reality. Then, they’d go back to the good days, where everything was normal again – without the liar.

However, when Cyborg tried to fight the man, he never truly realized just how out of his league Slade was.

“I don’t have to time to play with you,” said Slade, stopping one of Cyborg’s punches. An instant later, a cannon blasted in the air, missing Slade as the man darted behind him.

“This isn’t a game, Slade!” shouted Cyborg, whirling around.

“I know.”

Something slapped onto his back. A second later, Cyborg chilled as he felt the compartment on his back open without his permission. No… The man wasn’t… He couldn’t—

It was too late. Cyborg tried to move, but his body wouldn’t obey. The man had already hacked into his systems?! That fast!? Not even Robin had been able to hack that fast. Granted, the Boy Wonder had been quick about it, but Cyborg had updated his systems with greater security. No one was supposed to get into his systems.

“Oi! Get out of my sys…” Cyborg’s speech suddenly slurred midsentence.

“Just sleep for a bit.”

And at those words, the blackness flooded over Cyborg’s mind, his eyes closing afterward. He collapsed to the ground without even feeling the fall.

“Cyborg!” cried Starfire. Her body snapped into action and she flew down to her friend, kneeling down beside him. Though the color of his body was still blue, his eyes were closed, as if he were sleeping. A timer was on his arm, red numbers counting down from fifteen minutes.

Starfire took a deep breath. She glanced over at Dick, who was staring at the ground, the shock prevalent in his eyes. He hadn’t put his mask on, though he was in full uniform. Her heart ached for him. She wanted to know why Slade was doing this, for Dick’s sake. He was so different now, reacting to this, than he had been with Terra.

Perhaps, it was because this hurt a thousand fold more.

She would protect him.

“I do not want to fight you, because you are Dick’s father,” said Starfire, the pain seeping through her tone. She slowly stood up. “He loves you, just as I love Galfore. You are hurting him by not explaining yourself. I truly do not wish to fight.” She lifted her hand, green light glowing there, her monochromatic eyes flaring with determination. “But I will, to protect Raven, to protect my friends – to protect Dick.”

“My son is lucky to have such friends,” whispered Slade. His stance was nonthreatening and Starfire lowered her hand, the light fading away. Her eyes glistened. She wanted to believe in this man. He had been so good for Dick. “You are a powerful warrior. You are the glue that keeps the Teen Titans together. I could tell, even before… Remove you from the picture and the Titans would fall apart.”

His tone went softer, more reverent.

“To engage in a fair, honest fight with you would be the greatest honor to any fighter worth a grain of salt.”

Starfire exhaled, the sound breathy with relief. Hope rose inside her heart. This had to mean Slade had some good still. This wasn’t a betrayal. But then, suddenly, Slade bolted forward, halting at her side. She startled, unable to react further by his unexpected presence.

“So,” whispered Slade, from her side. The man’s voice was soft, even remorseful. “You’ll have to forgive me for fighting dirty.”

Starfire’s eyes widened, her breath catching – but before she could attack, something sharp stabbed into her neck. She could feel a toxin flooding through her veins. She stumbled backwards, the effects messing with her mind.

“I believe I got the amount right for your alien blood.”

“What… did you…”

“Sedative. A weak one.”

Starfire struggled against the drug in her system. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before in her life. Her mind began to shut down and she couldn’t do anything to stop it. Her body felt weak.  She raised an arm, determined to blast a starbolt, but the glow was too dim in her hands. Her eyes drooped. She stumbled forward, about to fall to the side, when strong hands steadied her. She felt herself being lowered to the ground, before she gave into it. Starfire heard one last, frantic voice – wishing she could go to him – before she succumbed to the darkness.

“Starfire!”

Watching Starfire fall electrified Dick into action. His legs moved again, no longer frozen. He was on his feet and rushing to Starfire, before dropping to his knees. She wasn’t moving, but she was all right. While he knew Slade wouldn’t truly hurt them, it still had crossed his mind.

He should’ve done something.

Dick looked up at the man, the questions rising and falling inside his mind. This was cruel. Dick wasn’t supposed to be having doubts nor worries any more. They had passed that point. Why were they going backwards? Had it just been for a short time? Was Dick’s life going to go back to what it was before all this?

Had his mother been wrong all along?

“Why?” whispered Dick.

A grey blue eye narrowed; Slade turned around. “Don’t interfere.”

Oh, as if.

Dick bolted to his feet and lunged after Slade. The man whirled back around and blocked the attack with ease. For a brief moment, there was a standstill between them. Dick never broke his gaze from that steel grey blue eye.

There was something to fight for.

Dick fought like a wild animal, furious, ferocious with every movement. He was going to force this man to talk, one way or another. If there was ever a time to surpass the master, now was that time. Dick was determined. But as every strike either missed or was caught, the anger grew more.

Why?

Why are you doing this?

You’re not just hurting me, you’re hurting my friends. I thought… What changed? What did I do wrong? If I did something wrong, please, I’ll fix it. Were all those things you said to me fake? How long have you been lying to me?

Like father, like son.

Tears streamed down Dick’s face. His lips curled upward, baring his teeth. Choking, furious sobs broke from his mouth. Punches became wild; his vision blurred. He couldn’t see any more, his vision was so marred by the tears.

At one wild punch, Dick’s hand was caught. There was a light click of the tongue.

“You’re forgetting all your training,” whispered Slade, chidingly gentle. Dick’s heart twisted. “Don’t let your emotions rule you.”

Oh, he was one to talk.

“You promised,” whispered Dick. A sob broke through again. His voice snapped to a new height, the anger begging to overpower the incapacitating hurt. “You’ve broken your word! This is… This is worse than anything you could’ve done. I wish… How could you betray me like this, now, of all times?!”

“I’m sorry.”

Dick’s breath caught in his throat, his gasping cries hitching. The hot beads of his tears fell down his cheeks in another wave. He was jerked forward, colliding gently into the man’s chest. He stilled, feeling the man’s presence and the warmth it provided. He couldn’t bear to look up.

Oh, how many times had he been held against this chest? How many times had he breathed in the comfort? How many times had those strong arms pulled tight within the embrace, whispers of reassurance gently entering his ear? How many times?

This was a dream; this had to be one of those terrible dreams. He was going to wake up any moment. There would be laughter in the kitchen, the smell of bacon throughout the air. Joey’s ethereal voice would join the others, while Rose’s voice would rise above in a random complaint. Kuroi would be cuddling next to him in bed. There would be chances to talk, to laugh, with so many moments to enjoy – moments for hugs that felt so much warmer than what Dick was experiencing at that second. It would be the start of a new day. It had to be—it had to be!

“I’m sorry.”

A second later, something sharp pinched Dick’s neck, the blackness quickly flowing through his vision. Oh, gosh, it wasn’t a dream. The last thing Dick was aware of were the strong arms that caught him before he fell to the ground.

ooOOOOOoo

June 20th, 2009. Saturday, 10:21 pm.

“We’ll be safe here,” said Beast Boy, after setting Raven down. As she leaned against the shelf, she looked around the dilapidated interior, before looking up at Beast Boy. He shifted his feet nervously. “No one would ever imagine me bringing you here.”

Raven had to admit, he was right. No one in their right mind would imagine Beast Boy walking into a public library, let alone an abandoned one not even in use any more. But, here they were, in that very location.

“How’d you even know this existed in the city?” asked Raven. The younger boy blushed.

“Well, hey, even I know where the library is.”

Raven raised an eyebrow. “Especially this one. Since it’s so filled with life and books.”

“All right, all right,” said Beast Boy, his cheeks a pink blush over green. “So, I got lost and stumbled on it. It took me thirty minutes to realize it was a library in the first place.”

“Of course, the boarded up doors were the perfect welcoming sign.”

It was amusing to tease Beast Boy like this. The boy seemed, for once, unbothered by it and it helped to ease the troubled worry in her heart. The runes etched in her skin no longer burned, glowing with a warmth that was slightly uncomfortable, but not unbearable.

Beast Boy looked sheepish, yet impish. “Well, I think a mouse might’ve gotten inside.”

“Oh, I’m sure. Too bad there weren’t any mouse traps around.”

For a moment, Beast Boy looked surprised by her joke. Then, he laughed, giggling with young delight. The sounds of his voice were gentle and soft within the ancient library. Afterward, he sat down next to Raven. Dust flared up. Raven could feel him against her arm. She would’ve preferred her space, but the way he sat at her side wasn’t all that bad.

“D’you… D’you think the others are all right?” whispered Beast Boy. “You don’t really think…”

“I’m sure they’re fine,” said Raven, curling her arms around her chest. The runes glowed on her arms, the red amber color lighting her eyes.

“Do they hurt?”

Raven looked up, glancing over at the younger boy. There was genuine concern in his deep green eyes. She shook her head.

“They’re fine.”

“Can you read them?”

“Of course.”

“Uhm… Then, would you tell me what they say?”

Raven sighed. For a long moment, she didn’t say anything. Then, in a soft whisper, she said, “It’s a spell. I have to recite it at the right time to activate it. Basically, it means… that I was born of evil and that I’m his portal, which will bring about… complete destruction of the world.”

“Hey, that’s not right,” said Beast Boy indignantly.

“What?”

“You’re not evil,” insisted Beast Boy. “You can’t be born of evil. Okay, so you got a creepy father. You’re probably not the only kid. Well… Not a demon… the demon—never mind, you get what I’m saying. But that doesn’t have to have anything to do with you. You’re a good person, Rae, and even if you don’t believe me, well, I like you. So, that’s gotta mean something.”

Raven blinked, her breath catching. If Beast Boy had been pink before, he was beet red now, all the way to the tips of his ears. The next few sentences were nothing but stammering nonsense. He spluttered, obviously trying to back track.

A soft, breathy laugh exhaled from Raven’s mouth. The smile was gentle.

“I’m glad I found friends like you and the rest of the Titans,” whispered Raven. The younger boy quieted. He nodded, smiling at her.

“Me, too.”

For once, Raven wondered if the others would really stop Slade. Would her fate be stopped altogether? If only this moment could last forever. However, Raven felt his presence before he even showed himself. Beast Boy bolted to his feet, just as Slade stood at the end of the long hallway of empty shelves.

The others had failed, it seemed. Raven’s heart fell, her soul becoming resigned. She had tasted hope, only for it to be stolen.

“Stay away,” said Beast Boy, but there was a tremble inside his voice. He and Cyborg had been the only two who truly knew who and what Deathstroke had been. Raven knew what an assassin and mercenary was, but she hadn’t known just how infamous this man had once been. She could feel the young boy’s fear and courage as he stood between them.

Slade took a step forward. Beast Boy tensed. Yet, the man’s stance wasn’t threatening. Beast Boy seemed to sense this and his body softened. He looked up at the man, a pleading entering his young expression.

“Dick always said good things about you. He always believed in you,” whispered Beast Boy. There was such tender, fragile hope in his voice. “And if Dick says it, then I believe him. You wouldn’t hurt Raven, right? She’s our friend. You wouldn’t betray us, like… like Terra… right?”

Slade was standing directly in front of Beast Boy, once the boy finished, his voice growing softer with every word. The man lifted a hand and placed it on top of the spiky green hair. The action was gentle as it lightly ruffled the hair. Beast Boy looked up at the man, hope entering his eyes once more.

“I’m sorry.”

Raven sucked in her breath, just as Beast Boy stiffened. Slade pulled something out of his belt, before injecting it into the boy’s neck. Beast Boy’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, before they closed. Slade caught the boy as he fell forward. Slowly, he lowered Beast Boy to the ground.

Then, he turned his head towards Raven.

Raven pressed herself against the shelf, the fear gripping her heart. The man was so different than before. Somehow, she realized that this must’ve been what Slade had been, long before he tried to take Dick as his apprentice. This wasn’t Slade, the criminal the Teen Titans fought to stop. No, this was Deathstroke, the world’s most frightening and powerful assassin.

And he was coming for her.

But there was something different about him. No matter how impassive the man seemed, there was something more going on. Normally, Slade kept his emotions back. Raven rarely could really feel his emotions, unless she tried to do so, as he usually kept them buried beneath the surface. Now, however, she could readily feel the man’s turmoil.

He’s in so much pain.

Somehow, the fear faded away. Even as the man took a step closer to her, Raven wasn’t afraid any more. Whatever lingering fears were in her soul, they vanished away completely when the man knelt down in front of her. She looked through the single glimpse into the man’s heart, that grey blue eye.

Raven let out a soft, deprecating chuckle.

“No one can stop him, after all.”

Slade shifted slightly, but he didn’t move. It was as if he were waiting for her, for her approval. Raven curled her arms around her chest, hugging herself tightly.

“I’m scared.”

“I’m sorry,” whispered Slade.

“You didn’t have a choice, did you?” asked Raven, still staring into that eye. The man paused for a moment. Then, the light in his eye darkened.

“No, I didn’t.”

Tears slipped down Raven’s cheeks. “Just like me.”

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