Crow - Another D.K.S. Production.
Chapter 1- As the Crow Flies
After the incident on Raven's birthday and Slade's return things went fairly back to normal except for Raven though she tried to act as she had before she found she couldn't help being more…emotional the feelings she'd kept bottled up for almost as long as she could remember were now seeping out and although they did occasionally cause a problem she managed to keep her powers mostly under control when her emotions showed themselves it was like a new beginning. Somehow what happened to her that day changed her inside she was more powerful than ever, but then again that was a bad thing knowing what was supposed to happen. She was also much more in control of her powers than before she was able to do things she previously could not or hadn't even thought of trying still it bothered her this change was not a good thing as most would have thought because it meant she was another step closer to fulfilling the prophecy of her future. She couldn't let that happen she wouldn't but so far there seemed to be no way to stop it Slade had been seemingly invincible with his new powers.
Raven was sitting on the roof of the Titans Tower. Staring out at nothing in particular just staring thinking about it all it had only been three days since her birthday and her powers had already grown so much. What would happen next time? Next time? Would there be a next time? She wasn't really sure her knowledge of what was supposed to happen was limited only to that she was supposed to receive a vision and something terrible was going to happen and it would be her doing she didn't know when exactly except that it started with her birthday…Slade had said she would destroy the world but why? What could possibly happen to her or anyone that would make her do that? What was it that would change her so drastically? Or maybe…it was an accident…maybe she simply lost control and it destroyed everything… for a second she thought she heard a Crow and it just occurred to her that one had been circling for awhile but had disappeared now.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the alarm going off signaling trouble. A second later she had phased through the ceiling and was standing in the Titans living room "What's going on?"
"Someone's breakin' into the tower!" Cyborg told her just as the doors flew off their hinges and hit the walls on either side.
"Whoops…sorry bout that the first set of doors were a lot stronger I didn't think they just go flying off like that…" Came the voice of a blue haired boy. He stood at about 5 feet 8 and ½ Inches. Wearing A very familiar looking Blue cloak except on the back of it written in Japanese were the words "Faith in Freedom". His boots were Black and he wore baggy black jeans His skin was a bit more tanned than Ravens was but still a bit pasty by normal standards and he was muscular well sort of not quite a muscle man but he defiantly was more built than Robin. His hair was spiked except for his bangs, which hung down to his shoulders on either side of his face. He wore black shades covering his eyes and had a smirk on his face that almost made him look evil. In one of his ears was an earring that had a small crimson ball dangling from it.
"Heya Raven, been a long time." He said stepping through the doorway as the Titans got ready for a fight. He glanced at them and spoke again "I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said but of course he was ignored, beast boy leapt at him first. Raven was trying to place him she knew him but she couldn't remember…but she knew that voice…
Beast boy was caught in mid air surrounded by a familiar looking black energy. "DUDE this is SO not cool fight fair!" BB protested.
The Boy Simply laughed and with a flick of his hand BB was tossed aside landing in front of Cyborg.
"Titans GO!" Robin Yelled
"WAIT!" Raven yelled over him and everyone stopped in their tracks
"Oh remember me yet?" He asked staring at her. "Here let me help." He said removing his shades revealing eyes that had pupils of silver.
"dude…" beast boy said in awe everyone except Raven had a similar gasp or comment but now she knew who he was.
"Crow." She said plainly
"There you go now you've got it. I'm so glad I wasn't forgotten." He replied.
"Why are you here?" Raven crossed her arms as if angry that he'd shown up.
"In case you'd forgotten our birthday just passed." Crow stated imitating her.
"And?" She said getting annoyed
"and I came to see if your prophecy came true…" He said he sounded almost worried.
"hold on…"our" birthday?" Robin interrupted.
"Yes…we were born on the same day co-incidence or destiny? Who's to say? Even our names are linked Crows and Ravens are very closely related you know." Crow answered him.
"….So that's it…you're a part of it…aren't you?" Raven asked. Crow simply nodded as a response.
"What part do you play!" Raven asked hoping that maybe just maybe he could be her shot at preventing her future from happening.
"Just tell me what happened first…then I'll tell you mine." He replied.
Raven thought for a moment. "Alright…but let's talk…alone. Follow me." She said levitating up and phasing through the ceiling back onto the roof.
"ooh She's gotten better." Crow said doing the same. Once they were both on the roof Raven turned to him and removed her glove showing him the mark.
"Oh no…...no no…….Damnit." Crow said kicking at the ground
"You know what it means?" She asked him
"No…But I've seen it before and if you have the mark then…." He trailed off getting quiet.
"Then what?" Raven raised one eyebrow she was concerned because by now she had figured out whatever it was, was most definitely bad.
"Then…Raven I have to kill you." He said in a low tone. She gasped.
"well…I suppose that is the only way to stop it from happening…." She said turning from him.
"That's not all though" He said turning around
"Huh?" Raven turned back to him.
"I…I have a choice." He said.
"A choice?" She repeated questioningly.
"Yes…a few actually because of me there are a few ways things can turn out. I can either Kill you now and prevent it all from happening, not kill you and let it happen…and lastly…I Kill you and it happens anyway…supposedly by my hand" He said.
"wow…some options…" Raven said sarcastically she wasn't wild about any of the possibilities. And in two of them the world was destroyed anyway.
"wait…but if those are your options then why did mine only show me alone?" She asked
"I'm not sure…maybe there's another possibility maybe that's what happens if…you… kill me" Crow replied.
"Great…wait….do you know how it happens? What happens?" She asked.
"…No…to be honest I'm really not sure it wasn't clear how or why it happens…but I know that mark…it has a lot to do with it and there's supposed to be another being involved something evil…Very Evil…" He replied.
"I see…" She said figuring the evil to be slade by all means he was dead but somehow…he came back but what brought him back? She wondered.
"Hey raven…" Crow started.
"Yes?" She replied
"Why'd you leave Azarath?" He asked
Raven looked down at the ground. "I don't know really…maybe I just…I thought maybe if I left I could somehow stop it slow it down something…and I needed to get away from my father… at the time I thought he'd have something to do with triggering it." She answered
"I see…" was all Crow said as he leaned over the rooftop looking out at the water.
"I have an idea…" He said suddenly standing upright.
"and what might that be?" Raven asked curious as to what he was thinking.
"I'm going to help you…we'll try and change the future together if we combine out powers maybe….just maybe we can change things…your friends in there might be able to help too…" He said and Raven stopped him there
"No we can't ask them to help us not with this…in…my vision…they…were gone…all of them…" She said holding her arms as she shivered slightly at the memory.
"Raven…I doubt we could stop them from trying to help I know what you guys do here and do you really think that if the whole world not just this city were in danger they would ignore it just because you asked them to?" Crow said
"You're probably right…you weren't in my vision either…so maybe we can change things…maybe if you help it'll be different somehow…but..I can't take that chance with their lives Crow" She argued.
"Why don't you let them decide what chances to take?" He Replied. Raven couldn't argue with him she knew he was right but after what happened…
"Crow…on my birthday…" She started
"our" He corrected.
"Our birthday…One of our old enemies attacked the thing is…he was supposed to be dead we all saw him go into the lava and it sealed itself up we even later sealed the whole thing as a monument to someone we lost…but somehow…he came back on that day and he had powers he never had before he overpowered everyone… even me. He told me he had a message for me, his message was my vision…he reminded me that it will happen and told me that he's going to make sure of it. " She told him.
"hm…that does sound serious…very serious indeed…if he was the messenger then who was the boss?" Crow posed the question for the first time
"I don't know…Slade has always done things himself always been the puppeteer I have no idea who or rather what could be behind it…" Raven answered.
Their conversation was interrupted however by Robin coming onto the roof
"Sorry to interrupt…but We've got a message….it's from Slade and it's for you" Robin said looking at Raven.
"Alright…let's see it." Raven said starting toward the door follow by Crow, with Robin leading the way. When they entered the living room the others were already there once Cyborg saw them he started the message.
"Hello Raven…Crow I know your probably there by now you don't know me but I most certainly know you. You will not complete your task for I will not allow it Raven will Do just as she is supposed to and the Titans will be powerless to stop it. Worry not though dear Raven…you will not be alone there will be others when it's all said and done…yes…many others……" He said laughing and the message ended.
"Okay..somebody tell me what the heck is going on cuz I didn't understand a word of that." Cryborg said with a bewildered look on his face.
"This isn't good…he knows I'm here and why I'm here…but how?" Crow said to himself looking down with his arms crossed.
Robins eyes narrowed "What do you mean? What's going to happen Raven I think we have the right to know." he demanded.
Raven Sighed "Alright….I'll tell you what really happened…that day…" She began and explained the whole story everything from the prophecy to Crow's purpose.
"Well how can we trust him then if he's supposed to kill you!" Robin asked after she was done.
"Because I don't intend to do it Raven is an old friend I can't harm her simply because of what might happen…but I have to at least keep up the appearance that I intend to….or…there may be…" He paused searching for a word. "Complications" He said finally.
"what do you mean complications? Dude isn't this complicated enough? How can it get anymore complicated!" Beast boy burst out.
"Well Raven has Slade trying to push her towards her fate…I have someone trying to push me toward mine as well…her name is Marona. She's….well the opposite side of things. As far as I can tell I don't know who she works for but her powers over wind were incredible…in fact in some instances she was able to mirror me. She told me I would have to become much more powerful to complete my task but I don't understand what she meant…I'm already at the peak of my power judging by her skills with her powers now I'd say Raven is only a little below me but still below me nonetheless…" His story was cut off by Raven
"Unless she meant you would need that power to defeat slade…not me" She suggested.
"That's possible…It would make sense that she would know of the opposing forces and that I would have to deal with them…Originally I had planned to come here and see how Raven was doing if she was still the Raven I remembered…and she's changed quite a bit but nothing negative…I couldn't destroy her knowing she is not evil So instead I intend to fight this…slade and his master if they are defeated I think we won't have to worry about any of this." Crow stated looking around to get a feel for how everyone was taking it.
BB looked somewhat unsure, Starfire looked like she was ready to go and hunt for Slade right that second Robin looked as if he'd rather kick him out and deal with it himself, Cyborg was unintelligible, and Raven was doing the same thing he was.
"So you're telling me…that you want us to trust you to help fight slade even though this prophecy which has been one for one so far says that you are going to kill Raven, is that right?" Robin asked skeptical of Crows real intentions.
"Robin…" Raven started but Crow raised his hand and cut her off
"no Raven it's okay…if I were them I wouldn't trust me either. And I'd think ill of them if they were so easy to win over they wouldn't be very good friends to have you see…and I've noticed you and him have…a bond of some sort he is simply trying to protect you. I didn't exactly make a good case for myself busting in here…but then you guys don't exactly have a doorbell ya'know…still I will go it's probably better if I don't hang around anyway Marona might find out then we'd be in trouble…" Crow said turning to go.
"no…Crow…no stay please…I want…I want you to stay it's been so long since I've seen anyone from home…we have a lot to talk about…" Raven was practically pleading with him, which was rare, incredibly rare.
He hesitated for a moment. Then stopped entirely "Alright Raven if you really want me to stick around I will because you asked me to." He said turning around
"Raven…are you sure this is wise?" Robin whispered to her.
"No…but I don't think it really matters where he goes Robin…at least this way I can talk to him and catch up on what I've missed…since the life I left behind is coming back to bite me in the behind anyway…and besides I think the odds of him killing me are much less if we talk. As opposed to kicking him out into the street." She whispered back in a tone that showed she didn't appreciate Robin trying to speak for her. She knew what she was doing and if it didn't work and she got killed well…that was fine at least then the world was saved…hopefully. She'd left one life behind to protect others she'd gladly lose life if it meant saving the world.
The others weren't quite sure what to make of the whole thing but of course Starfire couldn't resist the urge to greet a potential new friend.
"so..he is a friend then?" Starfire asked suddenly
"Yes." Raven answered Starfire jumped for joy
"Welcome new friend!" She called out enthusiastically glomping Crow who was caught entirely by surprise
"Uh…hi." He managed to squeak out Starfire's grip around him was surprisingly strong…well to him anyway.
"Is she always like this?" Crow asked looking toward beast boy the only one who didn't seem to be giving him the evil eye besides Starfire and Raven.
"Yea…she's the cheerful one around here." BB answered
"great…" Crow said sarcastically just like Raven he wasn't much of one for the bright and cheery especially when it was excessive and Starfire was definitely excessive.
He had been ignoring her actually as she spout off numerous activities and Tamaranien greeting customs that had him at a loss.
"help?" Crow begged once more calling upon BB. Starfire was so caught up in planning things she wasn't even paying attention to what was being said.
" Hey Star He looks kinda tired I think we should let him rest and we can do all that tomarrow ok?" BB said and Starfire finally stopped talking
"Our friend is tired? Then let him rest! Oh! We must first give him a room! Robin where shall he stay?" Starfire asked
"I'll show him to his room in a sec Star"Robin replied.
Meanwhile Crow was gasping for air taking deeeep breaths and thanking Beast boy "Thanks..I owe ya one." He said when he finally caught his breath starfire really had put the squeeze on him though she hadn't realized it.
"Yea well…just don't go hurting Raven and we'll call it even." BB replied.
A short while later Robin was leading Crow down the halls toward his room.
"I'm guessing you chose to show me personally because you had something to say so say it." Crow spoke up after awhile of walking in silence.
"As a matter of fact I do. I don't like the idea of you staying here but since Raven's okay with it I'll let you. But the moment you do ANYTHING that seems suspicious you're out of here got it?" Robin said looking at him with a look that would've scared off most wild animals. But Crow just grinned
"You really like her don't you?" HE asked
Robin's entire tough guy act fell apart he hadn't expected that. "Wha? What're you talking about we're just friends."
"Yea…sure…you like her though haven't told her yet but you do just the same it's so blatantly obvious it's funny that she doesn't know." Crow said with a chuckle.
"gah…what does it matter? That's not the point, you're a threat to her maybe not right now but you will be and I WILL stop you when you become one." Robin said trying to get back his seriousness.
"of course you would…you'd protect her because you care…so…what's the deal with that Starfire girl?" Crow said changing the subject.
"Starfire?…She's… from another planet, literally. Couldn't really tell you why she's so cheery all the time she's just really…emotional Raven used to hate her. I think it was because she was essentially the opposite feeling emotions much more strongly while Raven had to bury hers away." Robin answered.
"I see…she's pretty cute if I thought I could deal with her being over emotional all the time I might be tempted to ask her out." Crow said more to himself than to Robin but with the intention of causing a reaction which he got almost immediately
"Wha? Come on! You can't be serious!" Robin half yelled
"What? You can't monopolize the girls ya know besides, I tried things with Raven before…she burned me every time." Crow replied
"hm" was all robin said to that. He wasn't going to let Crow back him into a corner so he trip over his own words. There wasn't really a good way to go from that anyway. Just what was he getting at? Robin wondered. As they came to the room
"well this is it." Robin said stopping and opening the door. Inside was nothing but a bed the room was totally barren
"what? no decorations?" Crow said in a smart tone
"Sorry you have to do all that yourself just like everyone else." Robin answered and left him there.
Crow turned around to look at the room again and noticed Raven was in the corner now.
"Tell me you didn't mean what you said about starfire I'd have to kill you if you did." Raven said but her tone was one that Crow knew all to well she only used it when she was joking.
"Course not. Though she is pretty…but not my type and she damn near crushed me." He replied with a groan remembering her grip.
"what IS she anyway?" He asked
"Tamaranian whatever that is…" Raven replied
"She's got strength as you already know she can fly and she can fire blasts of green energy from her hands." Raven informed him.
"Hm…so in short you're telling me not to mess with her correct?" He asked
"Exactly." She replied and crow chuckled.
"whatever you say Raven…hey wait…were you following us the whole time?" he asked
"Yup…heard the whole thing." She replied with almost a full smile.
"Oh boy…that robin guy really ain't gonna like me now" He said laughing.
"Don't worry about him.he's just cautious and a bit overprotective." She told him.
"A bit?" He said raising an eyebrow
"ok a lot." She admitted.
"that's better." Crow said producing a small cube of darkness from his pocket
"What's that?" Raven asked curious as always.
"My stuff…I packed it all in well…a cube." He replied
"That's…an awfully small cube what'd you pack? A toothpick?" She mused
"hah ha very funny…watch" He said and the cube expanded and eventually popped leaving a pile of belonging on the floor. Many times what should have been possible to place inside it.
"How did…" Raven began
"It was a mini dimension I created to hold my stuff when I dispelled it my stuff came tumbling out simple really." He explained.
"I see…" she said looking at the pile of things all mixed together clothes, personal stuff, but most of it looked like junk to her. Except a picture she spotted near the top it was nestled between a pair of boxers and a book but she saw it and grabbed it
"Crow…" She said holding the picture up
"Oh…eh...yea…I kept that…"He replied looking at the picture it was a picture of the two of them standing together in the front and their families in the back all together at a celebration. Possibly the only time they had all been together and gotten along definitely the only picture in which all of them were happy too.
"I…I can't believe you still have this…" she said staring at it
"of course I did it was the last time that all of us were together…much less all getting along. Our families didn't exactly see eye to eye a lot of the time…with our fathers being on opposite sides of the council." He said looking away.
"Yea…but…that day we did" She crossed her arms holding the picture to her chest remembering the day it had been her…correction their birthday the last happy one she had it was after that they told her everything after that her birthday became an ominous day marking her coming another step closer…She closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at Crow.
"Can I…borrow this?" She asked
"uh…Sure.."He said hesitantly
"Thanks! I'll um…let you unpack now" She said inching past his stuff she stopped and gave him a kiss on the cheek "That's for still being my best friend." She said leaving.
Crow stood there for a bit and sighed. "yeah…after all this I better still be your best friend." He said to himself sitting down on the floor starting to pick through his stuff.
End Chapter 1
Well folks Crow has officially been introduced AND the plot thickens as more of the prophecy is revealed and causes a bit of…uncertainty to say the leastWill Robin and Crow actually be able to get along long enough to fight slade? Will raven really destroy the world? Or will crow kill her and stop it?