Chapter Two: Thursday

Kyd sat on the edge of the stage, his hands nervously fiddling with the book he had brought as he waited for Raven. He knew that she said she might have to deal with villains, but he had hoped that at least the first meet up would go smoothly. He had been turning the pages, going over the book from top to bottom repeatedly and in his opinion, they were completely screwed. There was no way out.

Raven turned the corner, her head deep in the pages of a thick book. She didn't seem to be thinking too much about where she was going, and almost walked into the stage. "I was worried that you had changed your mind, or that something had come up." Kyd said. He placed his book down and offered Raven a hand. She waved him off as she climbed onto the stage and sat at the edge, keeping a fair distance between them.

"I told you that I would be here." Raven said in reply, Kyd simply nodded. Kyd opened and closed his mouth a few times, unsure of what to say to Raven. He hadn't really thought of a plan, he just wanted to meet her. He had asked for this meet up, for a chance to get to know her so that he wouldn't be forcing to marry a stranger. And here the two where, sat in complete silence, unable to speak to one another. Finally, Raven broke the silence. "I've been going through all the information I have on this sort of thing, but nothing I find can help us." She said, her tone sounded just as sad as he felt.

"I haven't really found much on this either. But we have time, it's not like we're getting marriage tomorrow." He said. The idea still seemed unreal, and he would prefer to keep it that way. Raven nodded and after a bit more silence she started to fidget with the ends of her cape. Kyd watch, happy for the distraction.

"This meeting up thing was a way to get to know each other, so that neither of us would be forced to marry a stranger, right?" She asked. she turned slightly to face him, but Kyd dropped his gaze. He just couldn't meet hers.

"Yeah." He said as he picked dirt on his shoes.

"Okay, so how do we do that. Am I supposed to ask questions?" She asked. Kyd laughed at her response. It had seemed so innocent, like she was really that clueless on the matter. But when he looked at her confused look he understood that she really was that clueless.

"Sorry, I thought you were joking. I guess we can ask each other questions." He said, watching her. He could now see that she was almost stone. Keeping her body so ridged and still and somehow, she had managed to put more space between them. Kyd sighed as he spoke "I guess I can start. Why don't you tell me about something you like." He asked. Raven seemed to be thinking of the answer, her mouth opening the slightest bit before closing. Eventually she stopped trying to answer the question. "Okay, maybe I can start there too. Magic, I love magic tricks and card tricks." Kyd said, and he notice Raven's nose crinkly slightly at the mention.

"I'm not a huge fan of that type of magic." She remarked. Kyd sighed and wondered if she was always going to say she hated things that he liked. "I read. I spend a lot of time reading so I guess that would be something I like." She added.

"Heh, I'm not one for books. I can't sit still long enough to finish one." He said. Raven seemed to close herself again, and Kyd mental kicked himself for rejecting the thing she liked. He knew that she was going to close herself off and he still spoke. He sighed again, looking at the clock around his wrist. It was 8:13pm, they had only been there for 13 minutes and had already run out of anything to say. He hoped that it was just nerves and she would talk more later, but he also doubted that this was the case.

"Have you spoke to anyone about our situation?" Raven asked.

"No, I did lie to everyone I know though. Told them I teleported and passed out the other day to stop them from questioning me." He said. "Besides, I thought we agreed we wouldn't tell either of our friends." Kyd added.

"I know, and I haven't told any of mine either. I was just wondering since I know you have a girlfriend. I thought you may have told her." Raven said.

"No, again I lied. I don't want to break her heart if I can avoid it." he said, and Raven nodded. "What about you, did you tell anyone?" Kyd asked though his response was only a small head shake. He glanced at his watch again. 8:19pm. "Do you know what is involved in a wedding… for demons. I've never really lived in the underworld and wasn't really brought up in that world. I'm not sure how the whole thing works… Is it just like a normal wedding?" he asked Raven. She shook her head and turned to Kyd, her mouth open and closed again but this time she handed him the book she had instead, the book opened.

Kyd took the book and read over the words. His eyes squinting as he tried to make out each sentence. After a short time, Raven laughed, a small almost silent laugh and took the book from his hands, reading it outload herself. "Demonic ceremonies require the full attention of all that are present till the wedding is complete. The combining partners will partake in the blood of their partner as a symbol of forever. They will consummate the marriage as a final act. Once the wedding is complete the powers of each demon will become a defining factor in control over one another." She stopped and turned to Kyd who seemed to be confused.

"So, we have to drink each other's blood. That seems to be the main difference between demons and humans. I mean the power thing would be just like most woman controlling their partner so that shouldn't be any different." He said. He had mostly been joking but it was clear Raven didn't take to it. Still the only real difference he saw was the drinking of each other's blood which wasn't that big of a deal.

"No, the consummation is considered part of the wedding and if I am reading this right all those who attended the wedding will be there to view this as well." Raven said. Kyd turned his head down to the ground. He didn't like the idea of an audience watching him have sex at all, but the idea of an audience watching as he had unpassionate sex to someone who didn't even want to be there just made him feel worst.

"I see. So, a little different." He said as he lent back on his hands. "And I'm guessing that since I can only teleport, you're the one who will take control of me when the wedding is over. I can't pick my own bride and apparently, I can't pick my own future either. Life sucks when your powerless." Kyd said.

"I don't understand how the power works. Maybe it's not as bad as it sounds. I wouldn't control you if there was an option." She said, and Kyd smiled too her.

"I guess that's one thing I can look forward too. Someone who wasn't to try and give me some freedom." Kyd rolled his eyes and dropped his head. He had never lived in the demonic world and only really learnt the things he knew from demons he had passed by. Raven seemed to be in a similar situation. She relied on the knowledge from her books to understand how their world works. Kyd sighed once more and stood, stretching his arms into the night sky. "I guess I should learn more about demons, hey?" he said, turning to Raven.

"I think we could both learn more about our demonic sides." She said. Kyd was a little surprise that she would agree with him, but then she was trying to solve this just like he was.

"I also think, if were to learn about each other on the chance that we can't fix this. We need to make some rules. I hate seeing you so uncomfortable." He said, as his hand gestured to her withdrawn position. Raven shifted, releasing her legs and holding the edge of the stage. It was like she was trying to prove that she wasn't uncomfortable, but it was a poor attempt at that.

"I guess your right, some rules might make it easier for us to speak." She said with a slight shrug.

"Okay, well I guess talking about our team, or at least asking the other about them should be off the table. I won't ask 'for information on your team and you can't ask me for information on mine." Kyd said. He was glad to she was at least trying to get use to the situation. It was clear that she was still not comfortable with the whole thing, but she was trying.

"Nothing we say to each other can be told to anyone else." Raven said. Kyd nodded.

"So, everything stays privet, I can certainly agree to that." He said. Kyd sat again, trying to come up with another rule that might make her more comfortable with the situation. His mind came up blank. He didn't think there was much besides her team finding out. Although, he realised that at some point they may have to explain to their teams. He hoped that wouldn't come up for some time. His team was still bitter after Jinx had betrayed them.

For the time, the two were silent again. Only an hour had passed since they had meet and a lot of the time had been spent in silence. Kyd had never been one for silence. There was something eerie about the stillness. He had been trying to think of a topic to talk about. With his friends, Billy, Seemore and Mammoth, he barely thought about what to say. Gizmo had been a little more challenging because of the age difference but for the most part they got on well. Angel had been hard for him to talk to, but once he had managed to speak with her, she was a simple, and spoke with ease. Raven on the other hand seemed so closed off. He decided that the next time he should have a list of things they can talk about to learn more about each other. Though she might not answer any of the questions he guessed.

"You said you had a girlfriend." Raven said, her sudden voice causing Kyd to jump. He had been wrapped in his own thoughts and she had no presence in a room.

"Yes, her name is Angel." He said, still trying to calm his heart from the scare he had.

"What are you going to do about her, your relationship?" Raven asked. Kyd noticed the open book in front of her that she had been reading from.

"I hadn't thought that far ahead." He said. A sudden thought came to his mind. He had to marry Raven, but where did it say the two would have to be together. Even with that whole power gains control deal, Raven had said she wouldn't force him to do anything. So why couldn't they marry and be with the person they wanted to stay with. "I guess we could just marry and then act as though nothing has ever happened. Angel and I can go back to our life and you and your… you can of back to your own life." He said. His smile grew at the thought. Maybe they weren't going to be as bad off as the two had thought. That seemed like such a simple solution.

"The reason where forced to drink the blood of our lover is so that when were unfaithful, the other feels it." Raven said, her eyes tracing over the words of her book. Kyd tilted his head, his eyes confused as he turned to her. Raven looked at him, noticing his reaction and explained further. "For instance, if you were to go back to Angel after our marriage, I will be in pain. The longer you're with her, the longer you show feelings for her and the more you do with her, the more pain I will be under. Eventually it will kill me." Raven said. Kyd's eyes widen as he understood. Of course, demons had thought about that sort of thing. They went out of their way to make lives miserable, why not make marriage just as miserable.

"So, I cheat, and you die. Guess that option is out." He said with a small chuckle at the end.

"I mean if you absolutely cannot live without her and don't mind ending my life. I can at least understand that. I'm taking you away from the person you love." She said, but Kyd shook his head.

"You're basically giving me permission to kill you, which I won't do. My feelings aren't everything, and nothing is worth becoming a killer. Not even the one I love." He said.

"I'm guessing you don't have any other ideas." Raven said.

"Not yet, but I will come up with something." He smiled to her, but he knew it didn't really show on his face. Everything he had thought of so far had consequences that he just couldn't ignore. He sighed and stood. He needed to go home soon. The others had been worried about him and if he was away for too long, they would come looking. He couldn't risk that. "I should get back. But maybe next time won't be as bad. I mean, meeting like this is really only awkward because it's the first time, right?" he said.

Raven smiled, but she didn't reply. He could see that she was still struggling with the whole thing. He wonders if she had had a chance to process the whole thing. It was only really a day ago they found out and even though he was dealing he hadn't really thought about everything. He still had a lot to understand about there predicament. "I will try to interact more next time. But I don't know if I'll be able to." Raven said as she stood, and, in a flash, she had teleported from his vision.

He returned home to find Angel sitting on his bed, her hands brushing throw her long hair as she looked at the wall. It was clear that she was board and had been waiting for him. As she reached for her phone, she saw him and turned, smiling at him. "They said you had gone out, but I didn't want to just leave. I really wanted to see you."

"I'm sorry, I had a few things to do." Kyd said as he moved towards the bed. He kicked his shoes off before falling onto the bed, his arms wrapping around Angels waist and yanking her towards him. She laughed as she fell against him. "I missed you." He said as he held her close.

"You saw me yesterday Kyd." She said but she didn't mind. Her hand traced along his arm.

"Too long." He whispered back to her. Angel shook her head and smiled as he squeezed her.

"So where did you go. They said you left at 7:30 and wouldn't tell them where you were going." Angel asked.

"Walking. My powers have been getting worse and I hoped that a walk would clear my mind and make it easier for me to control myself." He said, lying to her for the second time. He hated this. He had never lied to her before, but now it was as though he was doing it when ever he could. But he couldn't simply tell her about Raven. He wanted to sort it out, try and fix things first.

"You could bring me next time. I would love to walk with you if you weren't opposed to the company." She said. Kyd tilted his head to hers and kissed the back of her head. He loved that her first thought was to join him.

"Maybe next time I will grab you before I go. It would certainly make it more interesting to me." He said. "

Angel shifted in his arms, turning to face him. She tapped his nose with her finger tip and smiled to him. "You know you can always ask me to go out with you. I know you get board easily and I want to help you. Just ask." She said. Kyd smiled and leant forward, sealing her lips with his. He could feel her smiling as he kissed her, and her arms pulled him closer to her.

"How did I get so lucky." Kyd asked. He had moved them so that he was lying on top of her, stroking her face sweetly.

"I guess you were just too adorable to turn down." She said, kissing his hand as it moved closer to her. Kyd lent down and kissed her once more before the door opened and Seemore walked in. He covered his eye quickly and turned away from the pair.

"We were going to ask if Angel wanted to play cards with us since she was just waiting. But clearly you are home." He said as started to leave the room. Kyd sighed and got off Angel, helping her up as he stood.

"We'll play, I could use the game to clear my mind." Kyd said as he pulled Angel with him out of the room towards the kitchen.

"Wasn't I already helping with that." She said, a smirk playing on her lips. Usually Kyd would say yes and mean it. But with his thoughts clouded by this mess he didn't really think sleeping with her was a smart idea.

"Yes, but that puts a whole new mess in my head and its much harder to get out." He said back. Angel laughed and Seemore groaned, covering the place where his ears would be if not for the helmet. Kyd sat down with Angel beside him as they played an element game. Kyd's thoughts where disturbed with thoughts that he had not yet realised. He started to understand that if he and Raven were together, he wouldn't be able to spend his time with his friends. He wouldn't be allowed to be a villain anymore, not that it was a big lost. But the people in his life would be a big lost. He considered them family and didn't want to be without them.

He wondered what Raven would lose. She probably wouldn't be able to remain a titan. Her friends were probably as close to her as his, and she would lose them too. Then there was always the chance that she was spoken for and she would lose that too. Or worse, she wasn't spoken for and Kyd would be forced to take away everything from her. He had found love and experience these feelings, but wat if she hadn't. He couldn't be her first. The first kiss, first time you fall in love and then there was the first time you experience lovemaking. He couldn't take all of it away from her.

By this point Kyd had managed to teleport from the room, his vision now only showing darkness. He had been thinking about her, swept away by his thoughts. He sighed, shoving the cards in his pocket and turning to the bed that Raven was sitting on. She was facing the window and seemed to be completely out of it. Kyd sighed and started to approach Raven. Sirens and flashing red lights cut through the silent air and seemed to wake Raven from her thoughts. She turned, ready to leave the room, only to stop as she saw Kyd. He could see that she was slightly shocked by his appearance in her room.

"What are you doing? We agreed that our friends wouldn't be involved." She said. He shook his head. He needed to explain it was an accident, but he couldn't get the words out. The sirens where drowning his thoughts out and he just couldn't work out what to say. As he started to collect his thoughts, his communicator went off. His friends worried voices sounding over the device.

"Kyd are you okay… Kyd where did you go?" the voice of Billy said. It was the only one he could make out clearly though in the background his other friends were speaking as well.

"You teleported here." Raven said. "The sirens are for intruders. The Titans will come here soon because I haven't left my room. You need to leave, we can talk about this tomorrow." She said.

"Where not meeting tomorrow?" Kyd said.

"I think we will have to, this was a little unexpected. I can't talk now, and you need to leave. I will meet you at the same place." She said, before heading out the door. Kyd sighed and teleported from her room to his home. He loved that the noise and lights had stopped, but his friends where there and they had questions.

Kyd spent a long time trying to explain that he was just allowing his mind to wonder. That it was a simple accident and that it could happen to any teleporter. His power is controlled by his mind, and when he focuses on something too much, he tends to find that thing. Most of the danger is not knowing where you'll be going. He could end up in the sky, stuck in a wall, or even just in the middle of something dangerous. Unconscious teleporting was the most dangerous. But he was usually good at controlling his thoughts.

Finally, he was able to lie down. Angel had stayed and fallen asleep long before him, but she had questioned him a lot more in private too. She had also asked if he had put anymore thought into a tracker. He had, and he still didn't want it. Even if Raven wasn't a factor, he would never want to be tracked. He liked having the freedom to go where ever without people constantly questioning him. He liked his freedom.

Kyd sat on the stage. Leaving the house again after the other night had been much harder. His friends insisted on joining him, and for some time they followed him. He had managed to lose them, but then they couldn't teleport. Angel had made it more difficult for him. She had Seemore place a tracker on him. Kyd had found it when he sat an alarm off in a shopping centre. He had placed it on a cat in an alleyway. But he was still annoyed that she wouldn't listen to him. She was worrying over nothing, but he couldn't really blame her. He kept telling her lies and kept the truth from her.

"That was a mess. Robin made us search the tower for almost five hours." Raven said as she sat beside him. She still wasn't as calm as he'd like, but he could see that she was a little more okay with the situation.

"I'm sorry. I teleport at random sometimes. Thinking about something often sends me to it." He said.

"So, you where thinking about the marriage I guess." She asked.

"I was thinking more about you." Kyd said. "You haven't mentioned anyone that you have feelings for. Does that mean that there isn't anyone in your life?" He asked.

"Is this what was really on you mind when you teleported into my room?" She asked, and he nodded in response. "I don't know why it's so important that you had it stuck in your mind so badly. But no. I don't have anyone like you do, and I haven't had anyone in the pass, so if your worried I'll cheat on you and cause you death, don't."

"That's not what I was thinking about." Kyd said. "I'm worried about everything. You said before that it was impossible to get out of this. I want to believe that it can be changed, but I also know how unlikely that is… I couldn't help realising that you will never get to experience things if were forced down this road and I don't want that. I have Angel, and I've loved her for a long time. But if you've not had anyone, then you'll miss out." Kyd said. His eyes had grown softer. He couldn't take away that chance for her to at least have something that wasn't taken from her. She had a year, that was enough time to at least be with someone.

Raven laughed, a small sound hidden by her hand and turned to him. "The likelihood of me actually experience anything like that to begin with was unlikely. Don't worry about me Kyd, I was never going to have that to begin with." Raven's communicator went off, she flipped the screen and a marker appeared on a map before she flipped it closed again. She stood and started to walk away, turning back just before she left. "Put your mind at ease Kyd. I was never going to have any of those experience to begin with. I'm not what people want." With that she left.

Kyd thought about the words she used. I'm not what people want, like she wasn't good enough for love. Although he wished to fix the whole force marriage thing. Now he had a new goal. To show Raven that she is capable of being loved. He would help her get the love she deserved, before she could no longer experience it.