Fan Fiction ❯ Three Way Mirror ❯ Chapter 9
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: tenohikari 
"I won't let myself become like you."
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Mystery / Suspense / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.20.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 511 | Status: Completed
"I won't let myself become like you."
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Mystery / Suspense / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.20.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 511 | Status: Completed
Three Way Mirror
Written By: Teno Hikari
email: teno_hikari@yahoo.com / tenohikari@cs.com
Summary: Takes place in the 'Aftershock' episodes. Slade has taken over the city, and all the Teen Titans, except Robin, has fallen. Can the boy wonder stop Slade alone? Or will Terra clip his wings? (Slade/Robin)
Disclaimer: Well you know what I'm gonna say, I own nothing. That includes the Teen Titans. ::walks off to go sulk in the corner::
Warning: Spoilers for the show - at least for the 2 seasons.
Slash, Yaoi, M/M pairings. Adult situations. Mature readers only.
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Chapter Nine
Terra didn't expect to wake up for the second time that day. The last thing she remembered was falling... along with the Jump City bridge. Her powers had failed her, and not for the first time in her life. Or maybe at the time she wanted to die. Terra couldn't remember. However, what she did know, was that she was very much alive. If you could call it that while shivering from head to toe; soaking wet in a shallow puddle of muddy water.
Slowly she sat up, a movement Terra immediately regretted as a sharp, searing pain seemed to begin from her shoulder and travel down to her right wrist. Supporting herself with her other arm, she began to shiver even more. Cold. So Cold. The phrase "ice water in your veins" would have made her laugh, if only her teeth could stop from chattering.
"Hold still."
The voice sounded distorted to her ears. She blinked, and glanced up to see a blurred figure in black standing over her. At first, Terra believed it was Slade who was speaking to her. Funny, she didn't remember him being so... short.
Wait a minute-
Terra turned quickly and instantly regretted moving again as she suddenly felt nauseous. Her head ached and the whole world seemed to be spinning around her. It wasn't long before she could feel the bile burning in her throat.
'G...Gonna hurl!'
Ignoring the person before her, Terra turned her head to the side and threw up. God, she hasn't felt this sick since... the Titans. When she finished, the earth mover wiped her mouth and sneered. It all started coming back to her. After the bridge collapsed, she was lucky to have been alive.
Why oh why did *he* have to be her savior?!
Before her sprawled form stood Robin, who unfortunately, was very much alive as she was.
--------------------------
Wintergreen didn't even flinch as the slamming of a fist on steel and the shattering sound of glass that echoed throughout the room. Quiet as always, he stepped forward with a small brush and dust pan and cleaned up the mess. Over the years of servitude for this man, he had grown accustomed to these situations although they were rare.
The man he had served for many years without question, was one with patience, perseverance, and endurance. It was how such a man had managed to stay one step ahead of his opponents. And of course, it was how he had stayed alive.
However, this time Slade's patience had been worn remarkably thin over the past few hours. The older gentle man couldn't blame him as he stepped back in his place and quietly regarded the masked man. That single dark eye was glaring angrily up at the monitors before him - all of them playing static.
It happened ever since Terra's encounter with Robin at the Jump City Bridge. After that several signals from Slade's robotic henchmen - including the inhuman Cinderblock, Plasmus and Proteus - had gone offline. All communication with his apprentice had been cut off.
Behind the mask, Slade let out a low growl as he used the control panel to pull up Terra's statistics. On screen he was able to monitor her vital signs through the suit of armor she wear. It served as a link for him to monitor the girl and of course gave him access to her powers and more. Much more that even Terra herself had yet to realize.
The girl was alive, Slade had confirmed after checking her vitals. Perhaps a little sick with a fever after the bridge collapsing... but alive. The suit was damaged to the point where he wouldn't be able to wake her if she were unconscious.
"Shall I go after Miss Tera and the others?" Wintergreen offered as he stood by his Master's side.
"No."
Rising from his throne like chair, Slade stood and switched the monitors off before turning to leave.
"I'll deal with this mess, myself."
--------------------------
After dropping a dry blanket over the shivering girl, Robin walked away and settled back down across from her. The small fire crackled noisily as the flames consumed another piece of dry wood from the lumber he had packed away nearby. Along with some food, blankets, and medical supplies he had hidden on the mainland.
He knew that blowing up a bridge while still on it was suicidal, but the teen had no intention of dying just yet. Everything he had been planning since the city had been taken over was falling into place like puzzle pieces. The next step was going to be even more challenging than the first, but no matter what he had to accomplish it.
His ears picked up some rustling movements from the girl's direction. Lifting his head, he saw her passed the flickering embers, trying to rap the blanket even tighter around her trembling body. He regarded her quietly, knowing from the damage done to the apprentice suit, she must have been colder than he was.
Finally after several minutes of silence, Terra's blue eyes met his masked ones.
"Why?"
Why, indeed. Who knew such a single word question could be so difficult to answer. The crime fighter remembered not too long ago he had asked the same thing from her when she had turned traitor. That same question. 'Why?'. Followed by the answer that was straight as a spiral. 'Because you were born!'? What the hell did that even mean?
Instead of answering, Robin just shrugged which caused the girl's eyes to narrow in irritation. He didn't owe her an explanation. Though it wasn't like the truth was going to help either. If Terra had somehow known what he was up to, she would have given Robin a very nasty piece of her mind.
For now, it looked like Slade's apprentice had given up on their glaring contest and scooted closer to the fire. Slowly she reached out, a couple inches from the flames, and let it's heat warm the pale skin of her hands. Watching her, it reminded Robin that she was human. Flesh and blood, rather than steel and circuits.
"Eeew..."
The young man turned his attention back to his companion to see Terra pulling out some dark squishy mass from her hair.
"Seaweed? Gross!"
Flicking the disgusting thing from her fingers, Terra looked up suddenly as the soft sound of chuckling. Raising her head to see over the warm glow of the flames, she saw the Boy Wonder was trying to sit perfectly still. Trying to, anyway. His shoulders were shaking in laughter even though he had stopped a few seconds after he had released it.
"What's so funny?"
A second later the boy had calmed down and begin to add another piece of wood to keep the fire going. As she refused to be ignored this time, Terra tried to stand. Didn't the bird-boy know she could crush him like an ant?
"Nothing really," Robin answered almost...timidly. "I just remembered the past. When we took you to the Tower the first time. You were really hungry, and ate everything in sight. Including Starfire's seaweed Glorge. I guess you've gotten pretty picky now."
The scowl on Terra's face melted away as she plopped back down on the ground. Why was he thinking about that of all times? Back then they barely uttered more than a few words to each other. She didn't even think he really cared for those times back on the team.
"Why?" she repeated, absently raking through the wet sand with her finger nails. "Why did you save me?"
Robin was no longer looking at her. Instead his gaze was fixated elsewhere. With the mask on, the earth-mover couldn't tell; but she had a feeling it wasn't on her.
"So why didn't you let me die?" Once again Terra pressed, not knowing why she cared so much. "You said... you said that my last chance was up."
Terra thought back to the day the Titans had fallen. Face pressed against the cold chain link fence, she remembered that fight before he had managed to get away. One last chance, a request that was given to the Titan leader by Beast Boy. Her flashback was interrupted when Robin finally looked her way. She wondered if he was glaring behind the piece material stuck to his face.
"I did," Robin responded casually. He wasn't looking directly at his former team mate anymore. Only the trademark angular 'S' that belonged to his nemesis. "But..."
Slade.
"I won't let myself become like you."
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"Jiiinx," Mammoth whined as they continued to trudge their way from the shore and into the a forrest leading towards the city. "I need to take a leak!"
"Jeez, do I look like your mommy?! Go... do your business behind those trees."
Waving the behemoth size teenager away, a drenched and annoyed Jinx glanced down at their shorter companion. Gizmo was still getting over their near death experience. Sure as mercenaries, they faced danger on all sorts of occasions. Never before did they actually have to run for their lives like that.
When Gizmo's jet-pack started to malfunction at the last second, the sorceress actually believe she was going to die. They say when you face death, your life flashes before your eyes. That was a lie. After their 'joy ride' was over and when they were on land again, her heart reverted back to its original pace. All three of them were alive... and the one person who was responsible for that, probably wasn't.
Plopping down on a log, the boy genius used a mini torch after gathering a couple sticks off the ground and setting them on fire. Shivering, Jinx sat down alongside him, hoping it would keep them warm until morning. Both remained quiet as they just sat there with their eyes on the campfire.
Mammoth returned, breaking the silence when he returned. Complaining about how hungry he was, and planned to go hunt down some chipmunks for dinner. The giant also muttered out how he was hoping that make-shift toilet paper he used wasn't poison oak.
Gizmo opened his mouth to utter something crude as a response while looking for some food in his jumpsuit pockets. Whatever he had planned to retort never made it passed his lips. Instead of finding what he hoped was left of a candy bar, in his hand was their group communicator. One that Robin gave to each of them, prior to the mission on the bridge.
Sitting Indian-style on the ground, Mammoth took out a similar one that was attached to his belt. It was busted, crushed under his weight when he had fallen down. "You... you guys think he's still alive?"
Jinx reached down and glanced at her own communicator attached to a band around her arm. Hesitantly she traced over it's surface, seeing no major damages on it. But only the computer whiz of their trio would really know if these devices were still functional.
"Hard to tell," she began, finally tearing her gaze away. "I mean he was still standing on the bridge when it went down..."
"Crazy idiot," Gizmo grunted as he carefully removed the back cover to check the circuits. "There's only one way to find out."
--------------------------
'I won't let myself become like you.'
Terra would have shouted something back at the Boy Wonder, but for some reason the words wouldn't come out. Liar. Traitor. Murderer. She shuddered at the last word and thought back to the first someone had called her that. Way before she met the Titans. It had been an accident, she couldn't control her powers back then. It wasn't her fault. But of course no one would believe her.
This time around it was different. It was intentional. Beast Boy, Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven. Former friends and foes - each fell at her hand. What was scary, was how easy it was.
'You are getting stronger, my dear,' Slade had told her after their victory over the city. 'Soon you will become a force to be reckon with.'
That was what she wanted... wasn't it? She may not have been the brightest crayon in the box; but Terra knew that being a 'force to be reckon with' was for Slade's benefit, not hers. She knew he only recruited her for those powers, turned her against her friends. But they had turned away from her as well, without trying to understand. That's why she killed them. They deserved it, right?
Liar.
"Terra."
Traitor.
"Terra."
Murderer.
"Terra."
"Don't call me that!" she snapped angrily at the Titan Leader. The girl instantly regretted the outburst, but of course did show any sign of it.
His masked eyes widened slightly in confusion. "Fine then," he said after a long awkward silence. His lips then curved in a small smirk as he added, "Bitch."
Terra's shivering from the cold ceased as her blood began to boil. She shot the other teenager a heated glare. If looks could kill, Robin would have been pulverized under the very ground he was sitting on. It was then that she realized, that wasn't a difficult task to do.
Hands fisting at her sides, Terra picture the earth underneath the boy to lift. Nothing happened. She blinked, that was odd. One more time she tried, her dark blue eyes narrowed in determination. Again, nothing. What the hell?!
Watching in bemusement, Robin's smirk widened a little as he realized what she was up to. Idly he leaned back as she continued to raise the ground in vain. It was only when the girl noticed that the familiar golden glow that used to encase her body was not to be seen did she finally realize something was horribly wrong.
"My... my powers?!"
--------------------------
Both Jinx and Mammoth were fidgeting silently as they watched the boy genius go to work. Using some tools that he always packed inside his arm guard, Gizmo was carefully trying to re-wire his communicator to send out a signal. Hoping that it would get across to Jump City, and that a certain crazy bird brain hero would respond.
"What if he is alive?" the larger teen asked out loud. "What are we gonna do? I mean we can't go back."
The sorceress frowned a little, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there. We need to find out if he isn't dead first."
"Bridge? I thought it went falling down?"
Jinx rolled her eyes. "It was a metaphor... moron."
"Will you both shut your canyon sized traps?!" Gizmo hissed at them, "I'm trying to work here!"
"Sorry."
--------------------------
Terra was shaking violently. Not from the decrease in temperature; but in shock and horror as she stared at her own trembling hands. What was wrong with her? What had happened to the very power she had considered a blessing and a curse? Where had it gone?
Without thinking, she slammed both of her fists into the ground, hoping it would have some impact. Nothing. Not even a crack as she felt a throbbing pain shoot up from the wrists to her arms. Once more, she pounded into the Earth and was rewarded with the same dull ache.
"What...?" she breathed heavily, "What the hell is wrong with me?!"
She tried hitting the ground again. Still nothing. And again, striking it as if it were a comatose hospital patient that needed to wake up. Bruises began to form, and she didn't care. Her fingers dug deeply into the dirt, as if her earth moving abilities were buried under it.
Finally, falling forward on her hands and knees - she held back a small sob of frustration in her throat. But failed miserably. Her powers - a vital part of who she was - were gone. They've abandoned her. She was nothing without them, and had no value as Slade's Apprentice. So this was what hitting rock bottom felt like.
So wrapped up in self pity, the blonde didn't even notice Robin get up to stand before her. What was he going to to do anyway? Kick dirt in her eye while gloating? A hand reached down and caught the girl by the shoulder and lifted her up to stand.
"Terra..."
She kept her head bowed, glaring darkly at his grip on her shoulder. His grip, was so like Slade's... and it was so close to crushing her windpipe. So was this it? Did he save her from a watery grave just to draw out her death?
"Go ahead," she huffed, "Do it..."
Robin tightened his grip a little - as if fighting temptation. Shaking his head, with his other head he raised her chin so he could look at her face. At the faint scar on her face to be exact.
"As I said earlier," he replied in a low voice that made her shiver, "I won't become like you."
Reaching up with her bruised hands, she gripped his arm with all the strength she could muster. Which probably wasn't much, as Robin hardly even flinched at the pressure. Knowing right now that he could break her in half if he wanted too... it was like rubbing salt into an open flesh wound. She hated being weak.
"Don't give me that crap," she spat at him. "What would your friends think, that you chickened out trying to avenge them? That you let them die and letting the one who killed them - live?"
She winced as the grip increased, and knew bruises in the shape of Robin's finger prints were beginning to form on her shoulder. Mentioning the other Titans, had of course been the right button to press. It may have be suicidal, but she would be damned if she were to cry and beg for him to put her out of both of their misery.
--------------------------
"Okay, got it!"
The former HIVE members perked up to see Gizmo through off his goggles and was now beaming at his work. He turned the communicator over his hands, before switching it on. Curious, the giant and the sorceress gather around to listen anxiously.
There was static, a lot of it.
"Uumm..." Mammoth scratched his head. "That doesn't sound like him."
Gizmo growled and raised his hand, ready to hurl the blasted piece of equipment against a tree trunk. That was until the static broke a part a little and they actually heard a voice speaking. More importantly, Robin's voice.
"...w-w-won't...b-e-eecom..."
"Gizmo, wait!"
Jinx gasped and quickly grabbed the midget's hand to stop him from hurling the communicator away. He cried out in surprise but was quickly shushed by Mammoth who clamped a large hand over his face. Unable to breathe and stuck in a 'Statue of Liberty' pose, Gizmo tried to stay still as Jinx moved in close to the speaker.
"Robin!" Jinx called out. "It's us, we made it to the other side. Where are you?"
More static.
"Mmmmrrrmrrr!" Gizmo mumbled angrily as he was turning a dark purple from Mammoth suffocating him. The giant grinned sheepishly and moved his hand as he caught sight of those beady eyes glaring murderously at him.
"Oops."
"What I was trying to say," he began while taking deep breaths. "The audio part is busted. He won't be able to hear us."
The three mercenaries glanced at one another.
"That's a problem, isn't it?"
--------------------------
Taking a deep breath, Robin's crushing hold relaxed a bit. "After all the months you've lived with us, fought along side us; You don't know anything about the Titans."
The ex-Titan just blinked as the masked boy's response.
"They wouldn't want your death," he told her. "They would want you to wake up. To realize that you need to turn away from the path you've taken as Slade's Apprentice. Killing you won't bring them back, nor will it honor their memory."
Robin tried to believe what he was saying as he continued. "I won't kill you, Terra. Stopping Slade is what really matters now. Until you understand and accept this, I won't let you use your powers to get in my way."
"You...?"
The last part had stunned Terra. So he was responsible for the loss of her geo-kinetic abilities. Instead of just killing her, he had taken something that she never knew could be stolen.
"How?"
With his gloved finger, he began to stroke the facial scar. Terra flinched and remembered the searing pain that his boomerang had caused. Suddenly realization hit her, much like a speeding train.
"Nano-machines," he explained hesitantly, "in your blood stream. Right now they've taken control of your nervous system, and overriding Slade's control from the suit."
Reluctantly, she released his arm, only to slap him in the face.
"Bastard!" the girl sneered hatefully and tried push herself away from him. "Both of you are sick. Hacking me from the inside like I'm some piece of equipment gone haywire?!"
"Sorry," he said without sounding very apologetic. "It was the only way."
Oh, if only looks could kill now. The young man standing before her, would be laying in his own blood and guts; then pulverized under Titan Tower. Repeatedly.
"You're so full of shit, Robin! You've claimed that you're nothing like Slade, well that's just bull!"
The bone crushing grip had returned.
"Shut up..." he spoke quietly, the low and dangerous tone in his voice was clearly a warning. But unfortunately, it fell on his former ally's deaf ears. "Just shut up."
"You're exactly the same!" She snapped almost hysterically.
"I said..."
"You're practically mirror images of each other!"
"...SHUT UP!"
Without thinking, he pulled Terra close. Grabbing a fist full of her blonde hair, the former Titan Leader forced her to look up at him. Before Slade's Apprentice could say anything else, she was silenced by Robin's lips.
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Author's Notes
Whew. Finally finished. Sorry it took me so long with this chapter, I've been stuck in several places... and now have an unhealthy obsession with another anime: Naruto. Again, this is a rough-draft with grammar and spelling landmines littered everywhere, hopefully no one will be blown to smithereens.
Okay, I know what you're all probably thinking: "Why the hell did Robin kiss Terra if this is Slade/Robin fic?!" Well I hope it would catch on, that the "Three" in the title hints to three main pairings: Slade/Robin, Robin/Terra, and Terra/Slade. So yaoi lovers - rest of assured you'll have your slash - which is coming soon, I promise!
Feedback Responses:
(fanfiction.net)
Has-Bei Padolsa: Ummm, I don't think I'm gonna eat that cookie now.
jess: You're giving me your first born, what am I going to do with it?
Atrinoisa: ::breathes normally after realizing that her head isn't going to be blown off:: I don't mind the stalking, really, as long as it doesn't lead to anything homicidal.
sailoryaoimoon: OMG. HAUNTED. SLASY. Yes. Yes it was. Robin strapped down to his bed with Slade holding a torture device ::doesn't dare go on because FFNET won't allow a NC-17 rating::
A to Z: It's slashy if you're a yaoi fan with your mind in the gutter. The two are obsessed with one another - and you can't help but think that there's something more.
tiger witch: Of course I couldn't kill Robin. The other Titans, yes ::dodges sharp and pointy objects:: but Robin, no.
StolenDreamer: Yeah, Robin may not realize it yet, but he is slowly turning into Slade - and finally Terra points it out to him.
j752572: Soooooddaaaaa.
TheDudeLordOfFantasy: As always, you've managed to stay one step ahead as a reader - yes the HIVE have an important role to play and it's not over yet.
Emerald Star: I'm glad they can be ignored. They drive me nuts though. If you catch them, could you report the errors to me? I'll be writing final drafts once I have time and would like to fix those mistakes.
Written By: Teno Hikari
email: teno_hikari@yahoo.com / tenohikari@cs.com
Summary: Takes place in the 'Aftershock' episodes. Slade has taken over the city, and all the Teen Titans, except Robin, has fallen. Can the boy wonder stop Slade alone? Or will Terra clip his wings? (Slade/Robin)
Disclaimer: Well you know what I'm gonna say, I own nothing. That includes the Teen Titans. ::walks off to go sulk in the corner::
Warning: Spoilers for the show - at least for the 2 seasons.
Slash, Yaoi, M/M pairings. Adult situations. Mature readers only.
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Chapter Nine
Terra didn't expect to wake up for the second time that day. The last thing she remembered was falling... along with the Jump City bridge. Her powers had failed her, and not for the first time in her life. Or maybe at the time she wanted to die. Terra couldn't remember. However, what she did know, was that she was very much alive. If you could call it that while shivering from head to toe; soaking wet in a shallow puddle of muddy water.
Slowly she sat up, a movement Terra immediately regretted as a sharp, searing pain seemed to begin from her shoulder and travel down to her right wrist. Supporting herself with her other arm, she began to shiver even more. Cold. So Cold. The phrase "ice water in your veins" would have made her laugh, if only her teeth could stop from chattering.
"Hold still."
The voice sounded distorted to her ears. She blinked, and glanced up to see a blurred figure in black standing over her. At first, Terra believed it was Slade who was speaking to her. Funny, she didn't remember him being so... short.
Wait a minute-
Terra turned quickly and instantly regretted moving again as she suddenly felt nauseous. Her head ached and the whole world seemed to be spinning around her. It wasn't long before she could feel the bile burning in her throat.
'G...Gonna hurl!'
Ignoring the person before her, Terra turned her head to the side and threw up. God, she hasn't felt this sick since... the Titans. When she finished, the earth mover wiped her mouth and sneered. It all started coming back to her. After the bridge collapsed, she was lucky to have been alive.
Why oh why did *he* have to be her savior?!
Before her sprawled form stood Robin, who unfortunately, was very much alive as she was.
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Wintergreen didn't even flinch as the slamming of a fist on steel and the shattering sound of glass that echoed throughout the room. Quiet as always, he stepped forward with a small brush and dust pan and cleaned up the mess. Over the years of servitude for this man, he had grown accustomed to these situations although they were rare.
The man he had served for many years without question, was one with patience, perseverance, and endurance. It was how such a man had managed to stay one step ahead of his opponents. And of course, it was how he had stayed alive.
However, this time Slade's patience had been worn remarkably thin over the past few hours. The older gentle man couldn't blame him as he stepped back in his place and quietly regarded the masked man. That single dark eye was glaring angrily up at the monitors before him - all of them playing static.
It happened ever since Terra's encounter with Robin at the Jump City Bridge. After that several signals from Slade's robotic henchmen - including the inhuman Cinderblock, Plasmus and Proteus - had gone offline. All communication with his apprentice had been cut off.
Behind the mask, Slade let out a low growl as he used the control panel to pull up Terra's statistics. On screen he was able to monitor her vital signs through the suit of armor she wear. It served as a link for him to monitor the girl and of course gave him access to her powers and more. Much more that even Terra herself had yet to realize.
The girl was alive, Slade had confirmed after checking her vitals. Perhaps a little sick with a fever after the bridge collapsing... but alive. The suit was damaged to the point where he wouldn't be able to wake her if she were unconscious.
"Shall I go after Miss Tera and the others?" Wintergreen offered as he stood by his Master's side.
"No."
Rising from his throne like chair, Slade stood and switched the monitors off before turning to leave.
"I'll deal with this mess, myself."
--------------------------
After dropping a dry blanket over the shivering girl, Robin walked away and settled back down across from her. The small fire crackled noisily as the flames consumed another piece of dry wood from the lumber he had packed away nearby. Along with some food, blankets, and medical supplies he had hidden on the mainland.
He knew that blowing up a bridge while still on it was suicidal, but the teen had no intention of dying just yet. Everything he had been planning since the city had been taken over was falling into place like puzzle pieces. The next step was going to be even more challenging than the first, but no matter what he had to accomplish it.
His ears picked up some rustling movements from the girl's direction. Lifting his head, he saw her passed the flickering embers, trying to rap the blanket even tighter around her trembling body. He regarded her quietly, knowing from the damage done to the apprentice suit, she must have been colder than he was.
Finally after several minutes of silence, Terra's blue eyes met his masked ones.
"Why?"
Why, indeed. Who knew such a single word question could be so difficult to answer. The crime fighter remembered not too long ago he had asked the same thing from her when she had turned traitor. That same question. 'Why?'. Followed by the answer that was straight as a spiral. 'Because you were born!'? What the hell did that even mean?
Instead of answering, Robin just shrugged which caused the girl's eyes to narrow in irritation. He didn't owe her an explanation. Though it wasn't like the truth was going to help either. If Terra had somehow known what he was up to, she would have given Robin a very nasty piece of her mind.
For now, it looked like Slade's apprentice had given up on their glaring contest and scooted closer to the fire. Slowly she reached out, a couple inches from the flames, and let it's heat warm the pale skin of her hands. Watching her, it reminded Robin that she was human. Flesh and blood, rather than steel and circuits.
"Eeew..."
The young man turned his attention back to his companion to see Terra pulling out some dark squishy mass from her hair.
"Seaweed? Gross!"
Flicking the disgusting thing from her fingers, Terra looked up suddenly as the soft sound of chuckling. Raising her head to see over the warm glow of the flames, she saw the Boy Wonder was trying to sit perfectly still. Trying to, anyway. His shoulders were shaking in laughter even though he had stopped a few seconds after he had released it.
"What's so funny?"
A second later the boy had calmed down and begin to add another piece of wood to keep the fire going. As she refused to be ignored this time, Terra tried to stand. Didn't the bird-boy know she could crush him like an ant?
"Nothing really," Robin answered almost...timidly. "I just remembered the past. When we took you to the Tower the first time. You were really hungry, and ate everything in sight. Including Starfire's seaweed Glorge. I guess you've gotten pretty picky now."
The scowl on Terra's face melted away as she plopped back down on the ground. Why was he thinking about that of all times? Back then they barely uttered more than a few words to each other. She didn't even think he really cared for those times back on the team.
"Why?" she repeated, absently raking through the wet sand with her finger nails. "Why did you save me?"
Robin was no longer looking at her. Instead his gaze was fixated elsewhere. With the mask on, the earth-mover couldn't tell; but she had a feeling it wasn't on her.
"So why didn't you let me die?" Once again Terra pressed, not knowing why she cared so much. "You said... you said that my last chance was up."
Terra thought back to the day the Titans had fallen. Face pressed against the cold chain link fence, she remembered that fight before he had managed to get away. One last chance, a request that was given to the Titan leader by Beast Boy. Her flashback was interrupted when Robin finally looked her way. She wondered if he was glaring behind the piece material stuck to his face.
"I did," Robin responded casually. He wasn't looking directly at his former team mate anymore. Only the trademark angular 'S' that belonged to his nemesis. "But..."
Slade.
"I won't let myself become like you."
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"Jiiinx," Mammoth whined as they continued to trudge their way from the shore and into the a forrest leading towards the city. "I need to take a leak!"
"Jeez, do I look like your mommy?! Go... do your business behind those trees."
Waving the behemoth size teenager away, a drenched and annoyed Jinx glanced down at their shorter companion. Gizmo was still getting over their near death experience. Sure as mercenaries, they faced danger on all sorts of occasions. Never before did they actually have to run for their lives like that.
When Gizmo's jet-pack started to malfunction at the last second, the sorceress actually believe she was going to die. They say when you face death, your life flashes before your eyes. That was a lie. After their 'joy ride' was over and when they were on land again, her heart reverted back to its original pace. All three of them were alive... and the one person who was responsible for that, probably wasn't.
Plopping down on a log, the boy genius used a mini torch after gathering a couple sticks off the ground and setting them on fire. Shivering, Jinx sat down alongside him, hoping it would keep them warm until morning. Both remained quiet as they just sat there with their eyes on the campfire.
Mammoth returned, breaking the silence when he returned. Complaining about how hungry he was, and planned to go hunt down some chipmunks for dinner. The giant also muttered out how he was hoping that make-shift toilet paper he used wasn't poison oak.
Gizmo opened his mouth to utter something crude as a response while looking for some food in his jumpsuit pockets. Whatever he had planned to retort never made it passed his lips. Instead of finding what he hoped was left of a candy bar, in his hand was their group communicator. One that Robin gave to each of them, prior to the mission on the bridge.
Sitting Indian-style on the ground, Mammoth took out a similar one that was attached to his belt. It was busted, crushed under his weight when he had fallen down. "You... you guys think he's still alive?"
Jinx reached down and glanced at her own communicator attached to a band around her arm. Hesitantly she traced over it's surface, seeing no major damages on it. But only the computer whiz of their trio would really know if these devices were still functional.
"Hard to tell," she began, finally tearing her gaze away. "I mean he was still standing on the bridge when it went down..."
"Crazy idiot," Gizmo grunted as he carefully removed the back cover to check the circuits. "There's only one way to find out."
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'I won't let myself become like you.'
Terra would have shouted something back at the Boy Wonder, but for some reason the words wouldn't come out. Liar. Traitor. Murderer. She shuddered at the last word and thought back to the first someone had called her that. Way before she met the Titans. It had been an accident, she couldn't control her powers back then. It wasn't her fault. But of course no one would believe her.
This time around it was different. It was intentional. Beast Boy, Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven. Former friends and foes - each fell at her hand. What was scary, was how easy it was.
'You are getting stronger, my dear,' Slade had told her after their victory over the city. 'Soon you will become a force to be reckon with.'
That was what she wanted... wasn't it? She may not have been the brightest crayon in the box; but Terra knew that being a 'force to be reckon with' was for Slade's benefit, not hers. She knew he only recruited her for those powers, turned her against her friends. But they had turned away from her as well, without trying to understand. That's why she killed them. They deserved it, right?
Liar.
"Terra."
Traitor.
"Terra."
Murderer.
"Terra."
"Don't call me that!" she snapped angrily at the Titan Leader. The girl instantly regretted the outburst, but of course did show any sign of it.
His masked eyes widened slightly in confusion. "Fine then," he said after a long awkward silence. His lips then curved in a small smirk as he added, "Bitch."
Terra's shivering from the cold ceased as her blood began to boil. She shot the other teenager a heated glare. If looks could kill, Robin would have been pulverized under the very ground he was sitting on. It was then that she realized, that wasn't a difficult task to do.
Hands fisting at her sides, Terra picture the earth underneath the boy to lift. Nothing happened. She blinked, that was odd. One more time she tried, her dark blue eyes narrowed in determination. Again, nothing. What the hell?!
Watching in bemusement, Robin's smirk widened a little as he realized what she was up to. Idly he leaned back as she continued to raise the ground in vain. It was only when the girl noticed that the familiar golden glow that used to encase her body was not to be seen did she finally realize something was horribly wrong.
"My... my powers?!"
--------------------------
Both Jinx and Mammoth were fidgeting silently as they watched the boy genius go to work. Using some tools that he always packed inside his arm guard, Gizmo was carefully trying to re-wire his communicator to send out a signal. Hoping that it would get across to Jump City, and that a certain crazy bird brain hero would respond.
"What if he is alive?" the larger teen asked out loud. "What are we gonna do? I mean we can't go back."
The sorceress frowned a little, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there. We need to find out if he isn't dead first."
"Bridge? I thought it went falling down?"
Jinx rolled her eyes. "It was a metaphor... moron."
"Will you both shut your canyon sized traps?!" Gizmo hissed at them, "I'm trying to work here!"
"Sorry."
--------------------------
Terra was shaking violently. Not from the decrease in temperature; but in shock and horror as she stared at her own trembling hands. What was wrong with her? What had happened to the very power she had considered a blessing and a curse? Where had it gone?
Without thinking, she slammed both of her fists into the ground, hoping it would have some impact. Nothing. Not even a crack as she felt a throbbing pain shoot up from the wrists to her arms. Once more, she pounded into the Earth and was rewarded with the same dull ache.
"What...?" she breathed heavily, "What the hell is wrong with me?!"
She tried hitting the ground again. Still nothing. And again, striking it as if it were a comatose hospital patient that needed to wake up. Bruises began to form, and she didn't care. Her fingers dug deeply into the dirt, as if her earth moving abilities were buried under it.
Finally, falling forward on her hands and knees - she held back a small sob of frustration in her throat. But failed miserably. Her powers - a vital part of who she was - were gone. They've abandoned her. She was nothing without them, and had no value as Slade's Apprentice. So this was what hitting rock bottom felt like.
So wrapped up in self pity, the blonde didn't even notice Robin get up to stand before her. What was he going to to do anyway? Kick dirt in her eye while gloating? A hand reached down and caught the girl by the shoulder and lifted her up to stand.
"Terra..."
She kept her head bowed, glaring darkly at his grip on her shoulder. His grip, was so like Slade's... and it was so close to crushing her windpipe. So was this it? Did he save her from a watery grave just to draw out her death?
"Go ahead," she huffed, "Do it..."
Robin tightened his grip a little - as if fighting temptation. Shaking his head, with his other head he raised her chin so he could look at her face. At the faint scar on her face to be exact.
"As I said earlier," he replied in a low voice that made her shiver, "I won't become like you."
Reaching up with her bruised hands, she gripped his arm with all the strength she could muster. Which probably wasn't much, as Robin hardly even flinched at the pressure. Knowing right now that he could break her in half if he wanted too... it was like rubbing salt into an open flesh wound. She hated being weak.
"Don't give me that crap," she spat at him. "What would your friends think, that you chickened out trying to avenge them? That you let them die and letting the one who killed them - live?"
She winced as the grip increased, and knew bruises in the shape of Robin's finger prints were beginning to form on her shoulder. Mentioning the other Titans, had of course been the right button to press. It may have be suicidal, but she would be damned if she were to cry and beg for him to put her out of both of their misery.
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"Okay, got it!"
The former HIVE members perked up to see Gizmo through off his goggles and was now beaming at his work. He turned the communicator over his hands, before switching it on. Curious, the giant and the sorceress gather around to listen anxiously.
There was static, a lot of it.
"Uumm..." Mammoth scratched his head. "That doesn't sound like him."
Gizmo growled and raised his hand, ready to hurl the blasted piece of equipment against a tree trunk. That was until the static broke a part a little and they actually heard a voice speaking. More importantly, Robin's voice.
"...w-w-won't...b-e-eecom..."
"Gizmo, wait!"
Jinx gasped and quickly grabbed the midget's hand to stop him from hurling the communicator away. He cried out in surprise but was quickly shushed by Mammoth who clamped a large hand over his face. Unable to breathe and stuck in a 'Statue of Liberty' pose, Gizmo tried to stay still as Jinx moved in close to the speaker.
"Robin!" Jinx called out. "It's us, we made it to the other side. Where are you?"
More static.
"Mmmmrrrmrrr!" Gizmo mumbled angrily as he was turning a dark purple from Mammoth suffocating him. The giant grinned sheepishly and moved his hand as he caught sight of those beady eyes glaring murderously at him.
"Oops."
"What I was trying to say," he began while taking deep breaths. "The audio part is busted. He won't be able to hear us."
The three mercenaries glanced at one another.
"That's a problem, isn't it?"
--------------------------
Taking a deep breath, Robin's crushing hold relaxed a bit. "After all the months you've lived with us, fought along side us; You don't know anything about the Titans."
The ex-Titan just blinked as the masked boy's response.
"They wouldn't want your death," he told her. "They would want you to wake up. To realize that you need to turn away from the path you've taken as Slade's Apprentice. Killing you won't bring them back, nor will it honor their memory."
Robin tried to believe what he was saying as he continued. "I won't kill you, Terra. Stopping Slade is what really matters now. Until you understand and accept this, I won't let you use your powers to get in my way."
"You...?"
The last part had stunned Terra. So he was responsible for the loss of her geo-kinetic abilities. Instead of just killing her, he had taken something that she never knew could be stolen.
"How?"
With his gloved finger, he began to stroke the facial scar. Terra flinched and remembered the searing pain that his boomerang had caused. Suddenly realization hit her, much like a speeding train.
"Nano-machines," he explained hesitantly, "in your blood stream. Right now they've taken control of your nervous system, and overriding Slade's control from the suit."
Reluctantly, she released his arm, only to slap him in the face.
"Bastard!" the girl sneered hatefully and tried push herself away from him. "Both of you are sick. Hacking me from the inside like I'm some piece of equipment gone haywire?!"
"Sorry," he said without sounding very apologetic. "It was the only way."
Oh, if only looks could kill now. The young man standing before her, would be laying in his own blood and guts; then pulverized under Titan Tower. Repeatedly.
"You're so full of shit, Robin! You've claimed that you're nothing like Slade, well that's just bull!"
The bone crushing grip had returned.
"Shut up..." he spoke quietly, the low and dangerous tone in his voice was clearly a warning. But unfortunately, it fell on his former ally's deaf ears. "Just shut up."
"You're exactly the same!" She snapped almost hysterically.
"I said..."
"You're practically mirror images of each other!"
"...SHUT UP!"
Without thinking, he pulled Terra close. Grabbing a fist full of her blonde hair, the former Titan Leader forced her to look up at him. Before Slade's Apprentice could say anything else, she was silenced by Robin's lips.
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Author's Notes
Whew. Finally finished. Sorry it took me so long with this chapter, I've been stuck in several places... and now have an unhealthy obsession with another anime: Naruto. Again, this is a rough-draft with grammar and spelling landmines littered everywhere, hopefully no one will be blown to smithereens.
Okay, I know what you're all probably thinking: "Why the hell did Robin kiss Terra if this is Slade/Robin fic?!" Well I hope it would catch on, that the "Three" in the title hints to three main pairings: Slade/Robin, Robin/Terra, and Terra/Slade. So yaoi lovers - rest of assured you'll have your slash - which is coming soon, I promise!
Feedback Responses:
(fanfiction.net)
Has-Bei Padolsa: Ummm, I don't think I'm gonna eat that cookie now.
jess: You're giving me your first born, what am I going to do with it?
Atrinoisa: ::breathes normally after realizing that her head isn't going to be blown off:: I don't mind the stalking, really, as long as it doesn't lead to anything homicidal.
sailoryaoimoon: OMG. HAUNTED. SLASY. Yes. Yes it was. Robin strapped down to his bed with Slade holding a torture device ::doesn't dare go on because FFNET won't allow a NC-17 rating::
A to Z: It's slashy if you're a yaoi fan with your mind in the gutter. The two are obsessed with one another - and you can't help but think that there's something more.
tiger witch: Of course I couldn't kill Robin. The other Titans, yes ::dodges sharp and pointy objects:: but Robin, no.
StolenDreamer: Yeah, Robin may not realize it yet, but he is slowly turning into Slade - and finally Terra points it out to him.
j752572: Soooooddaaaaa.
TheDudeLordOfFantasy: As always, you've managed to stay one step ahead as a reader - yes the HIVE have an important role to play and it's not over yet.
Emerald Star: I'm glad they can be ignored. They drive me nuts though. If you catch them, could you report the errors to me? I'll be writing final drafts once I have time and would like to fix those mistakes.