The Awful Truth, Part 3: Chapter 1:

"Within us all there is a monster."

The Awful Truth, Part 3, Chapter 1: Monsters

Raven had prepared for bed. She'd already completed her nightly meditation ritual, had put on her gown, and gotten under the covers, when her door chimed. Somebody was signaling for entrance.

She was powerfully tempted to just pull the covers up over her head and ignore the chime, but there it came again. And through the door, she could hear a voice. "Raven? Are you in there? It's me, Terra."

What could she be up this late for? It was nearly eleven o'clock, and Raven had had a hard day. She needed her sleep.

But Terra might have some problem that required her attention. She must have, if she was up, seeking her at this time of night. Sighing, she got up and went to the door.

Terra stood there, on the other side, barefoot, wearing her sleep shirt, looking worried. "Yes, Terra? What's wrong?"

The blond girl cast a worried glance down the hallway towards the room she shared with Garfield. "I…need to talk to you. May—may I come in?"

Raven brought her in, and seated her on the couch. Then she busied herself making tea. "I can't be gone long," Terra said, "Gar might wake up and wonder where I've gone. I don't want him to know I came down here."

Raven brought the tea to the small table in front of the couch. "Alright. So what's got you concerned?"

"Well, it's this business of Gar's…father."

"Ah." Raven had recently discovered that she and Beast Boy shared the same father, the demon overlord known to humanity as Trigon the Terrible. For years, Beast Boy had thought that his power of shape-shifting had come from a biological treatment his parents had subjected him to, as a child, in order to save his life from a rare, but fatal disease. But Raven had come into possession of the knowledge that his powers actually stemmed from his heritage as the son of the demon, that they were actually of magical origin, rather than anything related to biology. It had been a hard awakening for him, for it meant that, somehow, his mother had been either seduced or raped by the demon. Raven had assured him that it was probably the former, as demons, especially one as powerful as Trigon, were masters of the art of illusion, and it would have been child's play for him to simply take on the appearance of Garfield's father when the latter was away. One night would have been enough. And, if Gar's mother had noticed anything…unusual…about their lovemaking that night, she probably would have put it down to a hard day at work. Humans, after all, are pretty good at rationalizing odd things away. "So, what, exactly, is your concern?"

"Well…. No offense, but you were born to be a human portal for Trigon to enter this world, right? Is—is something like that gonna happen to Gar?"

Raven put down her tea cup. It was, she guessed, a fair question. Humans, even superpowered ones, without much experience with magic, are prone to mostly unfounded worries regarding such. "I won't lie to you, Terra. There is a slight possibility that something like that may be at work…but I doubt it."

"Why?" Terra sipped at her tea.

"Demons are not above having sexual congress with mortal women simply because they want to, and desire them." She shrugged. "It's highly probable that Trigon was simply amusing himself for a while. Besides, if Garfield were…tainted, in the same way that I was, it probably would have manifested itself by now."

"You're sure?"

Raven nodded, leaning back against the couch. "Pretty sure. Tomorrow, if you like, I'll run a check on him, make sure there's no magical 'time bomb' waiting to go off. But I'm pretty sure there's not."

"Well, good. Thanks, Raven. It—it really had me kinda worried." She though for a moment longer. Then, "Well. I guess I'd better be getting back. He could wake up, and miss me."

Raven felt something twist in her chest. He'd never wake up and miss her. That would just never happen, especially now. Even if Terra left, or, or was gone for whatever reason…that didn't change the fact that he was her half-brother.

I should not be feeling these feelings. I am ashamed of myself. Why was Terra staring at her? "Raven? Are you alright?"

"Of—of course I'm alright. Why do you ask?"

"You seem….I dunno. Like something's bothering you."

Something is. "Well, you needn't be concerned. I'm fine." Fouled up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.

Terra put her tea cup back down. "Raven? Can I tell you something, in complete confidence? I mean, it never getting out? To anybody?"

Raven picked up her own tea cup. The tea had gone cold now. It wasn't good cold. "I suppose so." She drew her legs up under her on the couch, propping her arm against the backrest.

Terra was silent for a moment. Then, "You know I spent the first twelve years of my life in a castle in Markovia, right?"

"Yes."

"A big castle. Just like the ones you see in storybooks. It had been especially restored to look that way. Brion—my half-brother—and I had pretty much free run of the place—but only of the castle, and certain high-security areas of the castle grounds. We weren't allowed to go outside the outer walls, the ones that separated the estate from everywhere else. Our father was afraid his enemies would kidnap Brion and…I don't really know why I wasn't allowed.

"We didn't have much more than broadcast TV—no cable or satellite, and almost no internet access. And we didn't have anybody else to play with; all our schooling was done there at the castle, by private tutors. But we did have a lot of books, old books, about old fairy tales, mostly.

"And so we played. Brion played at being the dashing, handsome prince, in his specially tailored outfit, and wielding a sabre. He learned, at an early age, how to fight with several different kinds of swords, but his favorite was always the cavalry sabre, or a cutlass. He was really pretty good, too." She smiled at the memory. "I remember yelling at him once when he slashed my best blouse, accidently, of course. It wasn't on me at the time, I mean. Brion would never raise a hand against me, no matter what. After all, he was the prince, I was the princess. I guess because of that, and, and maybe other factors, he took it upon himself to kinda look out for me." She smiled into the now empty cup. "Maybe, on some level, he was subconsciously trying to be a father AND a brother. Or, y'know, something like that. And, very possibly, that was why, even though I was more the tomboy type, I tried, on occasion, to fit into my role, as we saw it, of being the princess.

"And, of course, we were just kids being kids. All we knew, really, about the world outside came mostly from our entertainment, the old fairy tales.

"I don't know exactly where it started, but…somewhere, along the way, maybe when I was eight, or maybe nine, or maybe a little later, I don't know…we started playing these, I guess you'd call 'em role playing games. He was always the prince, the dashing, handsome prince, and I was the beautiful princess, always very prim and proper, always wearing the best, most expensive gowns and dresses. And, of course, always needing to be rescued. From something or other." She laughed at the memory. "I always hated that. I mean, why couldn't I do some of the rescuing, at least once in a while, huh? But that wasn't the way it went in the old stories, of course, so we had to go by the only rules of the game we had.

"And, well," and here she paused for a moment, as though unsure how to continue. "Somewhere along the way—maybe we can be kinda forgiven for this, seeing as how we were both below the age of ten, and you know, at least I guess you do, how kids can fantasize—that somehow we got the idea that our play roles were someday gonna be real. That Brion really would grow up to be the dashing handsome prince, and I," a sigh, "would, of course, become the beautiful princess slash damsel in distress who always needed rescuing.

"I wasn't too thrilled about that part. But I just figured it was the way things were gonna be, and I'd better get used to it. I remember," she chuckled, a faraway look in her eyes, "pinning up my hair when I went outside in the castle gardens, so that when the dragon swooped down to carry me off, it wouldn't catch on anything and tear. I laugh about it now," she said, "but back then, Raven, I really believed it.

"And we'd grow up, and get married. I mean, why not? Wasn't that the way it always was, in the old stories, the old books? The handsome prince or knight in shining armor always rescued the beautiful damsel in distress, who turns out to be some long-lost princess, or something like that, and marries her? And lives happily ever after? Well, I was the only princess around. We even had—and I hope this doesn't sound too bad-pretend marriages, in which we'd marry each other. Our father couldn't have cared less, if he even knew about it at all, which I doubt, so long as we didn't interfere with him running the country. And those he set to look out for us, the nannies, tutors, and housekeepers…thought it was cute.

"Now, keep in mind, this was all just a game we were playing. It was like chess: one person has to be one side, and the other person has to be the other. No other way to play it. And, really, what other game would we be naturally drawn to? And I couldn't very well be the prince…mostly 'cause neither one of us wanted to see him in a dress.

"And so, in our games, our playing, he'd go out and slay dragons, and fight evil wizards…and, of course, always be victorious—rescuing me in the process—and then…then we'd come home.

"Neither of us was really too sure about what to do next, about how to go about the 'living happily ever after' part, not really, after all, the books never said. I had a hunch it involved more than just, you know, a kiss or something. I mean, I was, what, eight, nine?-for pete's sake. But whatever it was, no matter what it was, well, the truth is, I don't think either one of us really thought about it too much. So what happened next came as a complete and total surprise to us both.

"But here's what happened: around the time when he was about twelve or so, maybe a little more, and I was a year younger, for some reason, our father started letting him out more, to a few different places. Kinda showing him off. After all, he was the crown prince. And…he got a girlfriend. A local girl. I don't remember much about her.

"Would you believe I got jealous? I mean, isn't that a scream? Here I was, actually jealous of my half-brother for having a girlfriend, actually angry at him because he did.

"I remember giving him the 'silent treatment.' I remember staying in my room, not coming out at all, even for dinner, because I didn't want to see him. This was very much not like the old stories.

"You know what happened?" Terra turned to Raven.

Raven tilted her head. "Nothing?" she ventured.

"He dropped her. Because of me. His half-sister. He dropped her. Like a hot potato. I mean, nothing changed in our relationship—we didn't become closer or further apart, but…he still dropped her.

"Now, I know what child psychologists would probably say. After all, he was around me more, and, maybe some kids at that age, especially those in our situation, don't diffentiate too well between fraternal relationships and any other kind, but, the fact remains….he still dropped her." And Terra fell silent, looking down at her tea cup.

"Terra," began Raven, softly, "Why are you telling me this?"

Terra was silent for a long, long time. Then, "I don't know. No reason, I guess. Maybe it was just something I had to get off my chest."

…

Cinderblock roared and swung at Starfire, nearly catching her in a roundhouse. The alien girl darted out of his way; Kitten fired her freeze way, catching the arm, encasing it in ice.

But Cinderblock was tougher than that. He smashed the ice coating off of him, and charged forward, to be met by a determined Robin. Robin's bo staff scissored his feet out from under him, and Cinderblock had to move quickly to escape being stasis-cuffed, but move quickly he did, throwing Robin off. As nimble as a cat, Robin rolled and regained his footing. Not for the first time he regretted that both Omega and Athena had been called away on a mission; they could have used the muscle.

Raven levitated three streetlamps and encircled the monster, while Cyborg readied his sonic cannon. But she was too close; the concussive effect of the cannon reflected off the wall of the building behind Cinderblock, striking Raven with almost undiminished force. She was hurled backwards, crashing into the glass façade of the building behind her, her magical shield the only thing saving her from potentially serious cuts and lacerations.

Cinderblock roared again and charged, partly dodging and partly climbing over Terra's hastily erected earthen barrier, and, hefting a piece of a nearby car, prepared to throw it at the downed sorceress….

…And a green African Cape Buffalo charged out of nowhere and crashed into him, knocking him off balance.

Cinderblock swung again, and slammed the buffalo into a nearby dumpster—but only temporarily. Not even a second had passed but Beast Boy, now thoroughly enraged and still in the form of a buffalo, exploded from the dumpster, and again collided headfirst into Cinderblock…and the other Titans, even Raven stared, open-mouthed, in shock.

Because the front half of the buffalo had turned a bright crimson color, and four eyes had opened up on its head.

Again and again the buffalo charged, each time forcing Cinderblock back, a little at a time…

…and getting larger, as the crimson color spread to its entire body.

Cinderblock tried to get up, but the monster buffalo was now easily three times the size of a tank, and less easy to stop. Slam! Cinderblock went sprawling again and again.

It became obvious to all onlookers that by now Cinderblock was in no shape to regain his feet; he put out a hand in an almost pitiful gesture to stop the oncoming behemoth, now larger than a dinosaur… and which showed no signs of stopping.

Raven darted in front, between the two monsters. "Beast Boy! Garfield! Stop!" She faced the gigantic creature, arms upraised….

The leviathan ground to a halt; the massive head, larger than Raven herself, lowered to look at her, the four red eyes gazing into hers. It might have been Raven's imagination, but it almost seemed like she could see flames jetting from the titan buffalo's nose with each snort. A low rumble shook the pavement and rattled plate glass windows for a block around…and died, as something within him recognized her.

For a brief moment the two beings gazed at each other across the space of three feet and eternity. Then the buffalo began to shrink, its limbs contorting, contracting back into Beast Boy's former shape, as the green teen's normal form reasserted itself. The red coloration was the last to go, twisting into stripes that moved upward and over him like a barber pole, twisting upwards and off him, leaving him sitting there on the pavement, a stunned look on his face.

"Okay," he asked, in a shaken voice, "what just happened?"

…..

"I did all that?" Garfield's voice was no less shaken, after he viewed the video Cyborg had taken with his built-in camera. "That's me?"

"That's the most you-est you I ever saw. Man, that was awesome!" exulted Cyborg, as delighted as kid at Christmas. "You put the beat-down of all beat-downs on Cinderblock! Our own Beast Boy!"

"Evidently, when you get angry, something within you…snaps, and releases your full morphing abilities," explained Raven. "I've never really seen this effect before, but I have heard of, well, similar things."

"Yeah, but…I've gotten angry before, and, and this…didn't happen. What…oh. Right." He looked a little embarrassed.

"Right," Robin finished, for him, "Raven was in danger." He looked at both Beast Boy and Raven. "Maybe…this is a good time for a full report?"

Gar and Terra looked at each other, as did Raven and Hank. They knew. "Well, Rob, it's like, like this…" Beast Boy floundered.

"Let me," said Raven. "Robin, as you've no doubt deduced, there is a connection between my father and Garfield. And…it's essentially the same one as mine. We both had the same father." All heads swiveled to look at Beast Boy, whose hand had crept into Terra's. She squeezed his fingers, tightly.

"Beast Boy? Your father was…?"

"I didn't know, Rob! I only found out recently. And, I guess I couldn't come up with a way to tell the rest of you. I mean, it's not exactly the sort of thing you let drop at the dinner table. 'Hey, guys, guess what?'"

"So," spoke up Cyborg, "we gonna have to start calling you 'Demon Boy' now?"

"Oh, please…"

"But this is still so cool! I mean, it's like having our own Incredible Hulk! And, and…" Cyborg ran out of words; he was lost in his own daydreams.

But Robin…Robin was looking at Beast Boy…with a look of intense speculation. And apprehension.

…..

"I tell you, Terra, I don't really know what happened! I, I just saw that creep about to throw a freakin' car at Raven, and well…I changed. At least I guess I did. I don't even remember doing it." The two were in their room.

"Well, I mean, it's a good thing you did. She might've been hurt, otherwise. I'm just asking 'cause it seems like there ought to be a way to control your changing like that. I mean, you never have before, even when Raven was in danger, you didn't do…this. Yeah, you became the Beast, I understand that. But this was…something more."

"I know." He ran his hand through his hair. "I, I'm just not sure what."

….

Robin's room. "You are upset, beloved." Starfire had followed him down after the impromptu meeting upstairs. Robin was not exactly pacing, but he was clearly agitated.

"Yes, Star, I am. Or perhaps troubled would be a better word." He stopped and bit his lip. "Gar lost control today, Star. If Raven hadn't been there, Cinderblock would now be Cindersmear. But will Raven always be there to stop him? I doubt it."

"So what will you do?"

"I wish I knew."

Starfire walked up to him, removing her garments with practiced ease. "There is one thing you can do, beloved mine." She was now completely nude. She turned his face up to hers and kissed him. "I do not say it will solve all your problems, but it will certainly solve one of mine. You do wish to help me, yes?"

As usual, the word "no" just wouldn't come out.

To be continued…