Raven, Robin, and Senras II: The Lord's Return, Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans
Raven gazed into her mirror, adjusting her earrings. "Stop worrying, you look great," Senras said from his meditation mirror. "Do you think we're ready for this? I think so, but just wanted another's opinion," Raven said, turning to Senras. "I know you're ready, you'll be fine. You are perfect for each other, and it helps for the new King and Queen of my planet to be married," Senras said. "Why is that?" she asked him. "It is tradition; I was the only one in the line of rulers without a spouse, and look what happened to me. So, it is viewed as good luck for Avalov," Senras said. "We can handle a team, but a kingdom? Isn't that a little much?" Raven asked. "You'll do fine, they'll love you. I know it," Senras said. "I wish you could be there for the wedding," she said, looking at the floor in dismay. "I told you that there is a way to bring me back," Senras said. "Can't I just kiss your ring like I had to before?" Raven asked. "Some things can never happen the same way twice, thus there is a more complicated way to do it, I still can't tell you, or I am stuck in here forever," Senras said, a little sadly, "If I do come back, I can't promise you that I won't have to go back to my old ways," Senras said to her. Raven twirled around in front of him in her wedding dress. "How do I look?" she asked. "Dressed to kill and then some, you look great, and I'm sure he won't be able to take his eyes off of you," Senras said. "Do you think we-" Raven started, but Senras cut her off. "No, it would never have worked. I am too dangerous for my own good, I am destined to be evil, and I can only be good trapped in here, not able to cause any destruction. If the situation was different, I would run to you without looking back, but as it is…" he said. "I will find the way to get you back," Raven said. Senras smiled, "Go…you don't want to keep your fiancé waiting," Senras said, slightly smiling. Raven smiled back and left the room.
Robin was pacing in front of the steps to the two thrones, where the heck was she? Had she any doubts? Maybe she changed her mind. Robin couldn't stop his nervousness as the seconds he was away from Raven ticked by slowly. The other Titans were standing off to either side of the steps, a golden railing led to the top, Terra sat on the banister, swinging her legs. "Relax, I'm sure she hasn't changed her mind," terra said, trying to ease Robin's mind. Beast boy had agreed to be there on condition that he got a few new videogames. "You are so selfish," Starfire said to Beast Boy. "Dude, I just don't see Raven marrying anyone. She is too creepy," he said. "She's just different, you have no place to call her strange, you're green!" Cyborg said. Beast Boy just turned his head. Then Raven appeared a few meters from them, walking down the red carpet to Robin, in a traditional bridal gown, Senras's black rose in her blue hair, her sapphire earrings glowing from the light. Robin swallowed hard, she walked toward them. Robin took Raven's hand and brought it in between them; he held her hand in his. The ceremony was performed by one of the castle's mages. It was not a religious marriage, thus no need for a priest, although it was similar. They exchanged rings and Robin put his hand behind her neck and brought her lips to his, kissing her as wedding bells rang in the backs of their minds, they walked hand in hand up to the two thrones, where they were then formally crowned King and Queen of Avalov.
Robin carried Raven back to their room after the ceremony, where on the mirror, Senras clapped for them. "Congratulations, you two, good luck on the road to happiness together," Senras said. Robin was startled, almost dropping Raven. "What the? How are you…?" Robin started. "That's a long story," Senras said. "Not now, soon…Right now this is your time, I'm happy for you," Senras said, disappearing back into the mirror. Robin carried Raven to the bed, about to lay her down, when she turned him around, laying him down. She fell on top of him, smiling. "Raven, you want to…?" Robin asked. "I do," she said. They started kissing each other, and then Robin stopped for a second, "What's wrong?" she asked him. "Have you thought of having kids? I mean since we're…going to do this?" Robin asked her. Raven looked at him and smiled, "Of course I've thought about it…you and I will be together forever, it would bring me great pleasure to bear our children, if we would have them," Raven said, looking down at Robin. Robin smiled, "Then…do you want kids?" Raven smiled, "If you want them," she said. "I'm not sure…" Robin said. She touched her hand to his cheek, "I love you," she said. He nodded, "Okay, yes I want a kid," Robin said. Raven smiled, and they started kissing again.
Raven awoke to a whisper in the shadows, "Raven…." It hissed, a familiar voice trying to whisper. She opened her eyes to see a ghostly Senras, out of his mirror, yet transparent. "Senras…what?..." she started. "Walk with me," he said, beckoning to her. She slipped out from under Robin's arm and put on her leotard and cloak, and then followed the Lord out to the beach. They stood for a moment, watching the waves break on the shore. "What is it?" she asked him, "How did you get out of the mirror?" she asked. "I have spoken to Death…he knows that what I have to say is important, this is a one-time deal, I had to talk to you," he said, turning to her. Raven looked at his transparent face, "Why?" she asked simply. "You and Robin are thinking of a child or two, correct?" he asked her. She nodded, "yes we talked about it before we…well, you know," she said. "Yes I do, and I must be honest with you. I don't know how to tell you…Raven, your first child will be a boy, the second, a girl…their destinies at this point are already set in stone, and it poses a threat to life as we know it," he said, concern crossing his face. "But, how? Neither of them has even been conceived yet, how can they pose a threat?" Raven asked. "That answer flows in your blood, forgive me for saying, devil-child," Senras said. "Normally, I would even encourage the birth of your two kids, but, in order for my return to the living, I must uphold the wishes and demands of Death," he said. Raven sat down on the beach, absorbing his words. "You have to understand, that your father's blood will then flow through their veins, and they will evolve into beings of terrible power. I can try to guide their abilities, but, in the end it will not be enough," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "But why? It's not fair…why can't I have a kid and live a normal life like everyone else?" Raven asked, almost pleading. "You are different. These questions were once asked by your mother…before you came along, and someone warned her as well, yet here you are…" he said. Raven looked up at him, "Why me?" Senras shrugged, "I can't answer that," he said to her. "Is there any hope that my kids won't do this?" Raven asked the young Lord. "There is a little hope, the hope that Robin's genes dominate yours when the child is born, but it is not certain," Senras said. "I can tell you that one of your two kids is destined to bring an end to all worlds, covering the universe in darkness…forever. I never told you what decisions to make, I only advised…but to me, this decision is perfect. If only you… weren't you…" he said. "I have an idea," she said. "What?" he asked her. "You, you can help me…help me unlearn my power and learn yours, that way, the kids have no trace of that power," she said, sounding terribly desperate. "It could work, but only if you are willing, the road to my
power is long, hard, and it has its own…complications," he said. "What do you mean complications?" she asked. "Well, worst case scenario, you end up like me…stuck in between life and death, too deadly to be alive, too caring to leave your loves behind… I will not teach you my power, but perhaps…we can teach you Servana's," he said, a ball of fire in his outstretched hand. "The power of the five elements at your command, you cannot imagine the strength at your fingertips," he said, allowing the flame to go out. "Now, we shall begin tomorrow, remember…I know it's your honeymoon soon, but no more sex until I say you are ready," Senras said. "Okay," she said, accepting his proposition. "My time outside of my reflective prison is almost up. Before I leave you, I will tell you that you can relearn your powers after the kids are born, I shall hold on to them for you, my love," he put a finger to his lips and blew her a kiss. He faded into smoke, back to the mirror.
Raven slipped out of her clothes and got back into bed beside Robin, repositioning his arm over her back. Her mind was going in different directions, thinking about giving up her powers for her children. She always considered her powers like they were her own blood, they were her own blood. Save the world, or destroy it, a hard choice. Every time she looked at Robin, she just thought, the hell with it, and would forsake the universe, every living thing for their love. She didn't want to stay away from him any longer, it was their wedding night, screw the universe. Raven's choice now made, Senras's warning was going to go unheeded.
Robin woke up to Raven's steady breathing on his neck, she was still fast asleep. He reached a hand down and stroked her leg with two fingers, her breath turned to a small sigh of pleasure. She opened her eyes, to see Robin's, wide open. She gave him a kiss, "Good morning," Robin said. "It will be," she said, pulling him on top of her. Robin was surprised at her spontaneous nature this early, "Really? This early? Wasn't last night enou…?" Robin started. "It's our honeymoon, boy wonder, get used to it," she said, slightly grinning. He smiled back, and kissed her.
Raven lay her head back on her pillow, Robin on her side, just getting off of her. "Well?" he asked her. "Well what? We've done this before," she said. "I know, I just want to know," he said smiling. "Terrific," she said, kissing his lips. She got out of bed and put on her leotard. She left Robin to get dressed and left for the fountain-hall. She stopped and opened Senras's door. "How I admire your defiance…it's really quite cute," Senras said as she opened the door to his room. "I'm not giving up my powers, Robin and I will take our chances," Raven said. "That's the Raven I know, so optimistic," Senras said, a little sarcastically. "You don't listen very well, do you?" a new voice said. Raven looked around Senras's room. Swirling black smoke slowly rose from a dark, hooded figure in the center of the room, it's face covered in darkness, a scythe in hand. "Death?" Raven asked. "You know, if you follow through with this, and it does confirm my warning, you are really making more work for me. And for someone who is trying to revive her friend, you don't seem too worried about me," he said. "Damn you," she said. "Watch the profanity," Death said, still standing in the center of the room. "You don't scare me," Raven said to Death. "It's not me you should be fearing at this point, devil-child!" Death said. "Your offspring spell death for trillions of lives, yet you still are willing to bring about the apocalypse," Death continued. "There might be a way to stop it," Raven said. "Of course there is, killing them, when the time comes, or not having them at all," Death said. "That is something we will not do, we want kids, and we'll have them whether you like it or not," Raven said to Death. Death's voice grew angry, "You little snot! You
now will force death on the worlds, like father, like daughter!" he said. "Death, please don't yell at her," Senras said. "Shut up! or your soul will never leave that mirror again!" Death said. Senras reluctantly obeyed. Raven approached Senras's mirror, she reached out for his hand, he pushed it through, which was the only part of his body that he could put outside of the mirror. She kissed his ring, there was a loud crack as part of the mirror broke off, allowing his head to poke out. "Hmm, nice try, but your know-it-all mage can't leave it completely yet! I will see you soon, dear one," Death said, disappearing into a cloud of black smoke. Raven looked up at Senras's face, sticking out from the mirror. "Well, we're getting closer," he said. Raven reached up and kissed his lips, he smiled, but still nothing else affected the mirror. "That does it! Tell me how to free you," she said. "I cannot, the answer will come to you, it has to," Senras replied. Raven took off the first ring Senras had given her and put it in a small hole in the mirror, where it fit perfectly. The mirror shattered, Senras fell out of it, landing on the floor in front of her. "Now you've got it," he said, before passing out. Raven ran down the hall to Robin, "Robin help me," she said, as she led him to Senras. Raven and Robin lifted him to his bed, Raven told the butler to fetch him food and a drink.
When Senras awoke, Raven was beside him sitting in a chair. "Feeling better?" she asked him. "Are you?" he asked. "What do you mean?" she asked. "You mean you can't feel it?" he asked her. "Feel what?" she asked, still confused. "Why do you think Death appeared just after you had sex with Robin this morning?" Senras asked, trying to give her a hint. "You mean I'm-," Raven started. "Congratulations, it will be a girl," Senras said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Better go tell the father," Senras said, grinning a little. Raven left the room almost immediately. Senras reached over to the cup and took a sip of water, then ate the piece of bread on the tray. "Nine months…show time!" Senras said, laughing a little.
Robin was sitting out on the balcony of their room, Raven walked in. Robin felt her coming down the hall before she even left Senras. "Robin?" she asked. "Yeah, what is it?" he asked her. "I'm…Your…we're…" she couldn't find the words. "What?" he asked her again. She decided to have a little fun. "Okay everyone in the room who has no kids take one step forward," she said. Robin started. "Not so fast, Robin," she said, laughing a little. Robin ran over and hugged her, laughing and smiling. "Boy?" he asked her. "Girl," she said. "Both…"Senras's voice startled them. "What do you mean both?" Robin asked. "Twins," Senras said simply. "A boy…and… a girl," he said. Raven looked to Robin to see his reaction. Robin just smiled and kissed her. "I'm sure the others would want to hear this," Robin said. Raven nodded, and he led her out to the fountain-hall, where the other Titans were waiting.
"You're what? Oh wow! Congratulations guys, wow big two days! First married, now this, wow!" Terra said, smiling. "Cool, what is it?" Cyborg asked. "A girl?" Starfire asked happily. "A boy?" Beast Boy asked. "Both," Raven said. "Twins? Wow, good job Robin, hah!" Terra said, laughing a little. "Are you still going to save people?" Beast Boy asked. "Not if I have anything to say about it, she'll be off of her feet as much as possible," Senras said. The other Titans left Senras and Raven alone, as they walked with Robin to find the first lead to the crime family in the capital city.
"My dear, It's time you learned the workings of the other side," he said. "What other side?" Raven asked. Senras raised a hand and surrounded them in a black aura, teleporting them back to Jump City,
atop Titans Tower. "The other side- the very thing you fight," Senras said. "Why would I want to learn that?" she asked him. "Because, if these kids are destined to be evil, it helps to know what you are jumping into before you actually do," Senras said. "Now, I know how to save your kids from themselves, but you'll have to play along if you want my assistance," he said. "You asshole, I thought you were my friend, that you had changed," she said. "But I am, and I have changed. Come now, my dear, did you really think you could change the ways of a warlord. Now that I am free, I must keep the evil inside me at bay by being evil myself, only I can direct it if it is willing," Senras said. "So, in order to be good…you have to be evil?" Raven asked. "It is irony of a sort," Senras said. "And I can't do it alone, so the deal is: I save your kids, you help me save myself, deal? It's a win-win," he said. "Okay," Raven said. "Where do we start?" she asked him. "Back where we began, raising my undead army to our side, and then we pick a system in space, and strike," he said. "How long after that do you have until you have to attack something again?" she asked. "A decade or two," he said. "So, it will be worth it in the long run, especially if we attack a small system," Senras said. "Fine, I'll help you, just promise you won't tell Robin about our kids' destiny," Raven said. "I promise," he said.
Raven had helped Senras reconstruct his old staff and army before the day was over. They teleported back to Avalov, just as the others got back. "Hey guys, was the lead good?" Senras asked. "No, no luck," Cyborg said. The Titans were tired form searching, so they left for the rooms Senras had given them. Raven walked with Robin back into their room, and as soon as he shut the door, he started kissing her and trying to take off her cloak. "Robin?" Raven asked. Robin stopped abruptly, "What?" he asked her. "I am already bearing our kids," she said. "So, what, you don't want to do it anymore?" he asked. "We have been doing that a lot lately, it's been weeks since we had a heart to heart talk," Raven said. "Okay, whatever you want, Raven," Robin said, walking out to the balcony with her. "So what's on your mind?" Robin asked. "Well, I was thinking that we need to talk of names for the kids," Raven said. "Ok, any particular name that you have chosen?" Robin asked. Raven shook her head, "I'm at a loss, I can't think of any I like," Raven said. "Well, I'll have to think about it then, because I don't have any ideas either," Robin said. Raven frowned, "Are you sure that we're ready for this?" Raven asked. "Of course we are, at least I thought we were," Robin said. "Do you think it's too soon?" she asked. "Well, what do you think? They are going to be yours too, you know," Robin said. "Oh Robin, I don't know, I suppose we should've waited, but I love you so much," Raven said. "I love you too…Hey, we can do this, it'll be okay," he said. "How do you know?" she asked. "It's not a prediction, Raven, I just have a feeling that this is right, just as I felt that you and I are meant for each other," Robin said. Raven smiled at him, eased by his words. She stepped closer and took off his cape. "I thought you didn't want to do that anymore," Robin said. "I guess I was just nervous about the kids, not anymore," she said. He smiled and kissed her.
There was a storm in the night, the waves crashed harder on the shore against the cliff. Senras was the only one out that night. He regretted having killed Servana, he missed her terribly. It was necessary though, to protect Raven and her friends. Senras thought again to what he was doing, "Why am I such a tool?" he said out loud. "Because you love and want something that cannot be yours," a voice said. Death appeared from black smoke beside him. "What do you want?" Senras asked. "I want to help you," Death said. Senras looked down, "How? I am an evil warlord, I turn cities to ash, I make rivers of lands fill with the blood of its rulers, and I even when I feel like it, kill for pleasure. How the hell can you help me?
I am beyond help…" Senras said. "When was it that you lost your free will?" Death asked. "You know that, why ask?" Senras said. "Just curious if you know," Death said. "What troubles you most?" Death asked. "There is only one Raven for two men," Senras said. "Servana while beautiful and smart, had one major flaw," Senras continued. "She wasn't Raven," Death finished for him. "Now, I'm supposed to sit by and help her as much as I can, while Robin reaps the rewards that I wish were mine?" Senras asked Death, "Why is it so goddamn unfair?" "You need a distraction," Death said. "I don't know what though," Senras said. Death put his hand on Senras's shoulder, and whispered into his ear, "Go back to war…the battlefield is where you are destined to live and die, as are the other helpless citizens that you slaughter." "I can't, she won't like-"Senras started. "Why do you care what she thinks? She made her choice- Robin, not you! You are just a side love, she cannot have both of you, and now, she is bearing Robin's kids, you have lost…" Death said. "No…" Senras said, looking down at the sand. "Admit your defeat and leave her behind! You don't always win," Death said. Senras reached into his cloak and pulled out the snakehead staff, summoning a skeletal warrior. "General," Senras said. "Yes, my lord, what do you wish?" it hissed. "Ready the ships…we have work to do," Senras said. Death grinned and dissolved back into black smoke.
Author's Note: Chapter 2 coming soon, please R&R. I love hearing from my readers!
Yours truly,
RavensMind