-Swoops in- It is I, The Hooded Menace, with my second Teen Titans story, this an Aquaven (Aqualad/Raven). To my fellow RobRae fans, never fear! They are still my main ship; I just though Aquaven was cute and needed more stories. This is my contribution.

For the record, I haven't stolen the rights to the Teen Titans ... yet.

The Power Of The Sea

For Raven, it was to be another sleepless night. She craved slumber, yearned for it, but she feared what she would see if she succumbed to her desire. Because lately, every time she closed her eyes, the same words tauntingly rang out:

It will steal the air from your body

Engulf your senses

Still your resistance

The power of the sea will consume you

It frightened her. Raven, although she had lived in the Tower next to the ocean for quite a while, had not overcome her fear of water. Or, more precisely, drowning. The voice in her mind was just a manifestation of the phobia, she thought, rather than what she desperately hoped it wasn't – a prophecy. The sea could be avoided. A prophecy could not. Even though, she mulled, if it was prophetic, it didn't mean she'd die. After all, she did bring an end to the world, as she was destined, but what was not foretold was that she would return it to normal as well. Maybe she was to be drowning but saved? Still, that was not something she wanted to think about. It was another sleepless night.

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Raven got up early the next morning, as it was pointless to stay in bed any longer. The lack of sleep was starting to show on her face, especially in her eyes. She fixed herself her favorite herbal tea in an attempt to perk up and look normal. However, the other Titans noticed.

"Hey Raven, are you okay? You look like you should be in bed," asked Robin, the masked leader, concern evident in his voice.

"Yeah Rae," Cyborg chimed in, "Something wrong?"

"I'm fine," she said in her trademark monotone, "Just need some more tea to wake me up."

And that was that. No one dared question Raven about it any more – at least for the moment.

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The morning was uneventful; no villains that the police couldn't handle, none of Starfire's puddings wrecked havoc (Unless one was stupid enough to eat it), and Beast Boy and Cyborg didn't get into the meat versus tofu debate. So, what do the Titans do when there's nothing to do? Have a pool party! It was Starfire's idea, as she recently purchased a new bikini from the 'glorious mall of shopping' and wanted to wear it. Beast Boy was excited by the prospect, as was Robin, and Cyborg agreed as long as Starfire was not allowed to make drinks. The last time that happened, Robin, Raven, and Cyborg all became ill, and no wonder – not many people can stomach mustard, coffee, jellybeans, and pickle juice in one blended concoction.

Raven didn't want to be anywhere near water, but was worn down by sad Tameranian eyes, an adorable green kitten, and ridiculous pouts. However, just because she'd be there didn't mean she was going to get wet. It was one of those days where it was neither scorchingly hot nor unbearably cold, which allowed Raven to stay in her cloak and leotard, to the disappointment of some. Starfire looked great, as usual, in a purple and green, or as Cyborg put it, 'Barney colored', two piece. Robin wore an alarmingly red pair of swim trunks, Cyborg basic blue, and Beast Boy a pair that was covered with bright yellow ducks. Raven elected to sit poolside, reading a book and being the occasional referee, while the others leapt into the water. The pool was filled with countless water toys, including beach balls, noodles, a Nerf ball and hoop, as well as a dozen inflatable creatures. Add four Titans, and you got instant chaos. Robin and Cyborg jousted on inflated horses with the noodles while Beast Boy jumped up at amusing moments as Jaws. Starfire shrieked and giggled at the slightest splash, which soon turned to be not-so-slight when the guys decided on a cannonball contest. Robin barely made a splash, as he was scrawny compared to the other two, and was immediately eliminated. Then came Cyborg, who made a considerable wave, but it was nothing compared to Beast Boy's. He changed into a whale, which made a wave so large that it nearly emptied the pool. Raven barely had a chance to look up from her novel before the wave engulfed her. Water forced its way into her mouth – she couldn't think, could only feel the water everywhere, feel her fear. It only lasted a matter of moments before it dissolved, but it felt like forever to her. Her friends rushed over to the shaking, coughing Titan.

"Rae, can you speak? Do you need to go to the medical wing?" asked a worried Cyborg.

She managed to shake her head 'no' after coughing up the last of the water. Tears ran down her cheeks, mixing with the wetness already there. Another tense moment passed, and she whispered, "I'm fine. I just need to get away from all this water."

Starfire wrapped a towel around Raven's shuddering figure and led her inside, to dry off and comfort. Robin and Cyborg lagged behind.

"Did you see her when the wave hit? She looked terrified," the Boy Wonder stated, frowning.

"Well, duh," Cyborg retorted, "It was a giant wave. Why shouldn't she be?"
"I'm not sure, but I think there's more to it than that. Raven's been acting a bit strange lately, and that upset her a lot."

"You've got a point there," Cyborg conceded, "She's been covered in monster goo before and not been nearly as upset, and this was just water."

The two of them stood in silence, then, at once, realized – "Raven's afraid of water?"