M'kay so...it's been two years. Three years if you count my last multichapter fic.
Hi guys!
It's been so long since I've written a Teen Titans fic on this site, and it's safe to say I'm a little nervous! The last time I was writing TT it was predominantly BBRae (which I still ship with all my heart). But then, earlier this year, I fell in love with RaeX, and it was only a matter of time before I caved and started back writing again! It feels really good. I missed these five nerds.
(S/O to Gracie, Albany, Connie, and Pedro for being amaze and encouraging me to go through with this. I love you guys to bits.)
Happy reading :)
The soft bristles running through Raven's hair over and over again is therapeutic, and she's completely content. With her newest novel open in her hand, the empath continues to read in uninterrupted silence as Starfire brushes her hair. The alieness sits on her legs behind her best friend and ally, smiling softly. She loves it when Raven allows her to have the fun with her violet tresses, which have grown a lot since the last time. It gives them a chance to spend time together and relax and do the bonding, instead of fighting crime.
"Raven?"
"Hm?"
"Pardon me for the interruption…but is it the okay if I can paint your nails?"
"What color?"
"White."
"...Sure, I guess."
"Oh glorious! I was afraid you would say no."
"Well, I'm not objecting since it's very likely that the color will not last the week. The more we fight," Raven lifts an ivory hand, digging her pointer fingernail into her thumbnail, "the sooner it chips off."
Starfire's face falls. "Must you always find a positive in the negative?"
Raven smirks and lowers her hand back under the spine of her book and continues to read. It's not that she's against Starfire painting her nails (and admittedly, Starfire is the only person allowed to do so), but their lifestyle isn't exactly glamorous. "Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to."
"I...suppose that's fair enough." Starfire resumes to brush, and they fall back into peaceful, mutual silence.
Until she breaks it again.
"You are aware that Red X is back in town, correct?"
Raven's eyebrows furrow slightly. Why bring up the subject of the antihero all of a sudden? "Yes. Robin's made us very much aware."
The team leader has two kinds of obsessions: the Slade obsession, which leaves them worried for him and his health, and on their toes at all times; the gel obsession, which is self-explanatory; and the Red X obsession. (Alright, so maybe more than two. Robin has tendencies to be over-the-top.) He's still putting two and two together, in terms of X's secret identity, and the fact that he still doesn't know who stole his suit bothers him immensely. Then he'll express his displeasure and go on and on about how he's a detective and "Batman would have figured this out by now", Beast Boy would make a side comment, and then Robin would double up his chores and training hours and Raven would giggle darkly to herself and...yeah. You get the point.
"Why?" Raven presses when Starfire stays mum.
"Nothing," Starfire sings innocently, but Raven knows better.
"Bullshit." The empath closes her book shut and makes a one-eighty turn, arching her eyebrow at her best friend.
"Raven! Language!" The alieness chides.
"Sorry. Slipped out." She narrows her eyes. "Now start talking."
Starfire hesitates. She's nervous, Raven sees; she doesn't have to rely on her powers to know what Starfire is feeling: she's an open book for everyone to see, always wears her heart on her sleeve. Often, her naive appearance is mistaken for weakness, but in truth, she is indeed stronger than she looks. Starfire has a nervous and timid habit where she plays with her hair or she points her index fingers together, and babbling isn't far from behind. She has stopped brushing Raven's hair altogether and, with one hand occupied with the brush, she's still able to slowly press her fingertips together again and again.
"You do...remember...the last time we faced Red X, correct?"
Raven's face contorts into a grimace.
How can she forget? It's been months, she hasn't been counting. She doesn't care to. Battles with Slade involved are events she does not tend to reflect on, at least purposely. Someone always gets hurt, and that time it was her. Somehow, Red X weaseled his way into a war that wasn't his to fight (and to this day, Raven wonders why? Why would you be involved with a person like that? Then she catches herself, because she shouldn't care what happens to X. Correction: she doesn't. It's none of her business what he does), and he got involved. Apparently, from what the Titans have gathered, Slade made a deal with X and didn't keep up with his end of the bargain. Meaning, X was supposed to get paid. Slade owed him a ton of cash. Next thing she knew, the Titans and Red X were fighting Slade and his robots side-by-side. The antihero's back was turned, Slade had his blade raised, and Raven threw herself in the crossfire. She wasn't thinking. Her adrenaline was soaring through her veins and she felt invincible. For the first time in ages, her team and Red X shared a common enemy, which meant that, to some extent, Red X had her protection.
But her shield wasn't strong enough. Like glass, it shattered.
Then weapon met skin, and everything went scarlet.
Raven subconsciously brushes her fingers against her torso, a deeper frown gracing her features. Slade escaped - surprise, surprise - and Raven's well-being was the team's priority. It surprised them, however, when Red X stooped down and picked her up, and carried her all the way to the Tower. He wasn't allowed inside. He couldn't be trusted, Robin said. Even if he did help her.
"All he cares about is himself."
She wrinkles her nose.
"You didn't leave my side that night," she reflects.
Starfire smiles softly, but even the warmth of its presence did nothing to melt the sorrow in her green eyes. "We are sisters, Raven. Sisters never leave each other behind."
Raven's expression softens. She immediately thinks of Blackfire, and how big of a heart Starfire has. Even after all that Blackfire has done, even as more often as Starfire begins to express her sadness through bitterness, Starfire still loves her. Starfire still loves Blackfire even after she left her behind. Raven cannot do that. She really can't. She's forgiven, yes, but she wants nothing to do with her family.
Well...her creator.
But Starfire has been there since the beginning, even when Raven was most unkind and new to living with four other people around her age, who had their own issues and their own problems and personalities and backgrounds. Starfire still insisted to hang out with her and spend time with her and get to know her despite Raven's hostility. Starfire's special. She's gotten through Raven's tough shell first, and Robin was next to break down her walls. They've literally been in each other's shoes, and it only made them closer as a result. Their personalities clash, but in the most perfect way that they mesh and mold together over time as their friendship deepens and strengthens with experience and age.
If anybody deserves to smile, it's Starfire.
"Come on," Raven's hand lightly falls on top of hers, fingers curving into a gentle grasp. "Let's go see what the others are up to."
"Are you kidding me?" Beast Boy exclaims in protest.
"Sorry, Beast Boy. Draw four." Robin grins, resting his cheek in his hand.
The changeling groans and pulls four cards from the deck. Is he psyched that the Titans are finally on vacation? Yes!
Getting his ass handed to him in a mean game of Uno? Not so much, dude!
Vacationing in a warm place where it's freezing cold back home in Jump City is probably the best idea Robin's come up with since the team got together. Well, one of the best, at least, and he's preeeetty sure Robin got help in the fun department. An entire month off from oozing monsters and cliche baddies? Hell yeah! He's all for it!
The place they're staying in is a remote location, isolated from everyone else but with a sick view of the ocean. The walls are made of glass and the floor of the richest wood, smooth and not a creak to be found. If they have to go into town for groceries or a simple stroll, or even go to the public beach, they are to wear their hologram accessories (varying from rings to necklaces to watches and all). Robin doesn't have to worry about that. He has it easy.
However, when they're inside like today, they are nothing but themselves, and Beast Boy loves it. A relaxed Robin is a happy Beast Boy.
Unless that relaxed Robin is actually smug Robin. Then Beast Boy hates him.
The smell of incense and strawberries suddenly flood his senses, and he's briefly distracted from his grumpy mood. Turning around in his perch on the couch, he feels a goofy grin spread across his face as Raven and Starfire enter the room, hand in hand.
"Hey, guys!" He lifts a casual hand and waves.
"Oh hello, boys!" Starfire releases her hold on Raven's hand to clasp her own limbs together, practically dancing down the two steps into the main room where the males sat. Raven lingers in the kitchen. "Are we interrupting?"
"Not really." Robin smiles at her, and Beast Boy fights a groan. Not really? Did he seriously just say not really after what he just did? You are a cheater, Robin! A c-h-e-a-t-e-r!
"We're just playin' a little Uno to pass the time." Cyborg's gaze flickers over to Raven. "You game?"
"No thanks." She folds her arms across her chest.
"Aww, c'mon, Rae! Just one game?" Beast Boy begs with a little pout. "We'll leave ya alone if you dooo."
"Liar."
The changeling snickers, and his ears pick up the sound of her soft snort. Anyone with normal ears would have missed it, but he thanks his lucky stars that his skin is green. After a short beat, she seems to consider it, because she sighs and pads over to the group. Starfire's already made herself comfortable (next to Robin, obviously), and Raven sits down between Beast Boy and Cyborg.
"One game," she says.
"Sweet."
Raven is Beast Boy's closest female friend he has in the Titans' home. While they did get off to a rough and patchy start, they ultimately got over their differences and developed a deep bond. Of course there's nothin' wrong with bickering with her every now and then (not going back and forth with Raven? Are you kidding? Where's the fun in that?), and sometimes those arguments turn into actual debates and Raven would get him talking.
"Hey, Rob."
"What's up?"
Robin puts down a skip card.
Beast Boy glowers at him pointedly (you did that on purpose, you little -), and Raven puts down a blue five. "Can we go to the beach?"
"There's the beach right there." Robin points, and the changeling fights a sigh.
"You know what I mean! THE beach. Yanno, around other people?"
"Around other girls, you mean?" Cyborg snickers.
"He's saving you the rejection," Raven pipes up from behind her deck of cards. "Forget about it."
"Hey!" Beast Boy's voice cracks. "I thought you were on my side!"
"Since when were there sides involved?"
"Since...Since...Since now!"
"Uh huh."
Cue Beast Boy's frustrated noise.
"Why do you hate me?"
"I don't hate you. You're just being melodramatic."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Beast Boy."
"What?"
"Your turn."
Beast Boy barks a nervous laugh, "My bad," and returns his gaze to the messy pile on the table, then back at the deck in his hand. He grins. "Hey, Raven?"
"What?" M'kay, she's annoyed.
"I'm sorry." And he's gonna make it worse.
"What are you -"
"I love you."
Then it dawns on her.
"Don't you dare -"
It's too late.
The toothy grin widens. "Draw four."
Raven grumbles something unintelligent under her breath and he's able to catch a curse or two, but his spirits are lifted with hope and drive for victory.
"And you already know what color I'm gonna pick!"
That's a wrap for the first chap! Fun fact, the first draft was nothing like this and I ended up starting all the way over (didn't get much done though, so I figured I'd try a different direction entirely). More characters will appear as the story goes. In the meantime, leave a review if you liked it and tell me your thoughts!