AKA – A Raven Story

PROLOGUE:

Prologue

In the T-Shaped tower of Jump City, a young woman with long dark blue hair and strange purple eyes paced up and down the Living Room, looking out of the window and on to the ocean. A sound behind her made her jump, and she spun around, coming face to face with a spiky-haired young man, who looked at her with concern. Behind him, three more figures were visible. A fairly tall girl with long salmon-coloured hair and bright green eyes; holding on to the arm of the boy; a short green boy, and his counterpart, a tall, well built young man, who was half made up of machinery. The first boy, who went by the name of Robin, step forward to address his pale-skinned friend, who froze and looked at them.

"Raven?" queried Robin, "What is it you wanted to talk to all of us about?"

"You might all want to sit down." Sighed Raven.

The three did so, on a long black leather sofa, but Robin looked alert. "What, what is it? Is Trigon back?"

Raven shook her head sadly. "No, he's long gone, it's something else."

"Friend Raven?" asked the tall girl, "What is it that is wrong with you? You look so distressed."

"I'm fine, in myself, Starfire." Replied her friend, "But he last year got me thinking about a few things."

"I think it got all of us thinking…" agreed the half-teenager, half-robot one.

"That's a lot of thoughts…" chirruped the small green one.

Raven gave a small smile, "Yea, I guess. But, what I was thinking…" she paused, as if she didn't dare, or didn't want to go on. "The thing is, I was considering…" the other three simultaneously leaned forward as Raven tried to get her words out, "Maybe, taking a break from saving the world? I've never had a normal life. I know none of us have really, but if I could have just one wish, it would be to be an average, everyday teenager, just for a while…"

"Raven? But…" interrupted the green one.

Raven held her hand out to quieten him. "I wouldn't have considered asking before Beast Boy. But since we beat the brotherhood, everything's just gone on as it would, people haven't needed us…" she trailed off.

"You do make an excellent point Raven." Agreed Starfire. "Now is a better time than any…"

Robin still looked unconvinced, and stared at Raven. She stared back pleadingly, willing him to feel what she was feeling, so she could explain her request easier. He stood up and inspected her. The other four waited with baited breath for whatever he was going to say next.

"I know you've had a hard time of things Raven." He concluded, "But it seems to me, all of us do deserve a break, I was thinking of one myself." He revealed. "As long as we can all keep in touch, I would be willing to let any of you that wants to do your own thing for a while, do so."

Raven hurried over and flung her arms around his neck, tears brimming in her eyes. She looked over his shoulder at the other three. Starfire and Beast Boy joined in the embrace, whilst Cyborg watched them protectively. Finally, Raven released her friends, wiping tears away with the back of her hand.

"Raven?" began Cyborg. The other four all turned to look at him, "Where are you going, and what are you planning on doing?" he asked. "If it's not private or anything…" he added hurriedly.

"It isn't private Cyborg. You may all think I'm crazy, but I applied to go to a boarding school, in Huntingfield."

"Redwood?" asked Robin. Raven nodded, surprised he knew the name of the place she wanted to spend some of her days.

"I don't think that's crazy at all." Smiled Robin.

"Me either." Agreed Cyborg.

"I do believe it would be most exciting!" concluded Starfire.

"Thank you guys…you don't know how much this means to me…" Raven was on the brink of tears again.

"What kind of family would we be if we held you back?" queried Beast Boy.

"I guess it's settled then…I leave first thing in the morning…" whispered Raven.