Birds of a Feather

22

I watched Jason squirm on the floor and relished in his pain. My finger ran down his bloody chin as he whimpered. The fear that radiated off of him brought me a comfort I hadn't felt in years.

"Go on Raven. Kill him." Slade encouraged from the sidelines. Once I was done with Jason surely, I would take out Slade. After everything he's done and put me through in my life the man doesn't deserve to live. However, with the Joker giddily watching and Harley by his side I turned to Jason once more.

"Jason" I spoke. My voice bounced around the room as Rage spoke. Jason looked at me through swollen eyes.

"C'mon Sunshine. Don't do this." He said in a hushed tone. He let out a few coughs and attempted to sit up when I forcefully kicked him back down.

"Should've thought about that before you left." I said, my eyes glowing red with pure power. I raised Jason off of the ground and looked around the room to make sure everyone was watching.

"Raven. Don't. Please." He squeaked out again. I peered over to my pitiful ex-team members. Those who were watching were looking on in horror which fueled me to keep going. It seemed as though Nightwing and Terra had passed out and Starfire couldn't see but had her hands over her ears. Admittedly my demonic voice wasn't easy to listen to, but it instilled fear, which is all I need.

With a large breath I threw Jason as hard as I could towards the window on the other side of the room. He tumbled out as the glass crashed around him. I stayed in my place knowing that a fall at that speed combined with the fact that he likely got impaled with glass was enough to kill him.

"Harley go check." The Joker said as he stared at me. Most people would have said his look was one of fear, but I knew better. I could practically see his aura bouncing around in giddy excitement.

Harley walked over to the edge of the large window and peered to the outside. It was easy to see that deep down the girl wasn't like her boss, her face showed excitement but she was exuding guilt and fear. She let out a giggle anyway even though it wasn't very convincing and turned to the rest of the room. "One baby bats down three more to go." She smiled.

The Joker let out a slow maniacal laugh as he jumped from his seat. He bounced toward me and grabbed my face by the jaw. "You my pretty bird are just what we needed." He laughed as his grip got tighter. The flames around my eyes grew and the Joker retracted his hand with that stupid smile still plastered on his face. "Ah and still feisty! I love it."

"Well Wilson it seems as though your plan has worked. Harley go transfer the money." He ordered. She simply nodded and I felt the relief wash over her. No doubt because she wouldn't need to be in the same room as me.

"Fantastic doing business with you." Slade nodded and started to shut down his computers. That is he was until a bullet passed by the right side of his head and landed in the wall dangerously close to him.

"We're not finished yet. She's got to take care of the other bird and while you're at it, you might as well have her take out the others. We need no witnesses."

"Your wish is Raven's command. So apprentice who shall we start with hmm?" Slade strolled over to the cages that encased my friends while the Joker took his place presumably to watch the show. My eyes scanned the familiar faces and each one brought up more and more negative memories until I reached the last cage. Images of her blonde hair covered in mud as she attempted to drown me flashed in my brain.

"Ah yes. You two have some history don't you? I remember your first fight well. Let's have a little rematch shall we?" Slade said as he pressed the security code that turned off the electric to her cell.

"Terra, get up." I said. I heard a growl in the distance and saw Beast Boy trying his hardest to escape his confines. Terra appeared as though she had just woken up and when she saw me her teary eyes went wide.

"Raven don't. I don't want to hurt you." She said shakily. It was funny to think that without any help she would ever win against me.

"Trust me, I don't think that's going to be an issue here." I smiled evilly. I started to move towards her. I could feel the rage fuel the black magic that encased my hands. I fired one warning shot, to let her know that she wasn't going to get out of this and then it started.

Terra screamed, clearly getting her second wind, and rushed at me. The ground beneath the rubble of the broken building around us started to swirl around me. "You will not leave my daughter an orphan" she screamed as a large piece of rock flew past my head. I dodged easily and crushed the rock she had thrown at me with my own powers.

"You don't deserve him. You don't deserve happiness." I screamed back, my voice with it's echo sounding much more intimidating than hers. "You ran away. You always ran away. I can't wait to tell your daughter what a coward her mother was."

She froze after that and I took it to my own advantage. Encasing her in black magic I held her captive as I inched closer and closer to her.

"Please Raven. I know you hate me. Please don't do this. Please." She cried as she tried to free herself of my grip. Rocks were flying everywhere but it seemed as though she wasn't really in control of where they were going.

"What's the matter Terra? Losing control again?" I laughed. I was so close that I could see the tears running down her cheeks.

"Raven leave her alone or so help me!" I heard Beast Boy scream. I turned around and squinted my four eyes. The evil laughter continued as he made weak threats against me.

"Or what? Your beast will come out and play? The one thing that has only ever protected me? Did Terra ever figure that one out?" I smiled as his eyes went wide.

"What are you talking about?" She sniffed. Her struggle was getting weaker as I knew I had finally distracted her enough to finish her off.

"Oh you should see what Beast Boy's final form is. Funny thing though, it only ever seems to happen when he wants to protect me, not that I ever really needed it. Bet you've never heard about that though hm?" I smiled. The realization set in her face that Beast Boy's infatuation with me will always be bigger than his love for her even in his most feral state. With this last moment of weakness, I tightened the grip around her neck until she seemed to be out. Letting her go she fell to the floor in a heap as I turned to see Slade clapping.

"Well done. But let's try someone a bit more challenging, shall we?" He said as he walked over to Beast Boy. After entering the code on his cage Slade ripped Red X's tape off of Beast Boy and stepped aside.