Broken
It was Robin's turn to take care of Raven. Raven was like a little sister to him, he understood her unlike anyone else in the tower. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Come on Raven, you have to be in there somewhere. Wake up. Please. The team needs you." He covered his face as a sigh escaped his mouth. Raven helped him during the worst times of his life. They always caught each other when they fell. They could rely on each other.
The boy wonder began to feel a pang of guilt. Lately, the team and his friends were the last thing on his mind. He's been so love struck by Starfire, he didn't notice anything around him but her. It wasn't a bad thing, the team was proud but he neglected his friends at the same time. "Maybe I could have stopped this" he muttered to himself. He laughed a little, he could hear Raven telling him that it couldn't have been stopped. He found himself grinning.
A hand touched his shoulder, turning around he faced his girlfriend pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Boyfriend Robin. Will Friend Raven be okay" Starfire asked in a worried voice. "What has caused her to slip into such a state"
"I don't know star, but she's Raven. She'll pull through" Robin tightened his grip around Starfire's waist.
"I know she is like a sister to you. I believe she will get out of this funk" Robin sighed as a sweat dropped appeared on the side of his head. "Is that not the right saying" it caused the boy wonder to chuckle. "it is dunk? is it not?"
"I think the word you're looking for Star is flunk." Cyborg interrupted. "And I believe she will." Cyborg stood on the other side of the resting Raven. Her heart beat was slowly picking up. "She'll be fine. She's Raven, she has to be"
"That isn't the case" they all turned to face beast boy, his voice was deep. A hint of anger and sadness. "Raven isn't okay. She was never okay"
"BB what are you-" Beast boy threw a black leather book at the edge of the bed. They all surrounded it, wondering what it was. They read the first line, 'Dear diary' and recognized the writing. It was Raven's. Beast boy grabbed the diary and faced his friends with a serious face.
"It's not okay. It has never been okay for Raven." This was one of those rare occasions in which beast boy was dead serious, not a hint of humor, not a smile. His face was stone. His eyebrows scrunched together and his mouth turned into a frown. "She's been feeling like shit." this surprised everyone. Beast boy hated to curse. Even though to some people shit wasn't a bad word, it still wasn't something beast boy would say. "She's broken. She's been broken since after she's saved the world. Trigon is still in her head, still trying to make his way out. He never left, instead he's still a part of her. Locked away in her head. Raven's broken." The words sunk in every team mate. They all looked at Raven who was still. "She's definitely not okay. We have to save her."
"Where am I" a tired emotionless voice asked. She looked around and found herself in a familiar place. She walked through the town, people chatting nonsense. Not noticing the girl. She found her feet walking on their own, to a familiar path. She past the cities, to the woods, to the hills, to a temple. Greeting her at the top was a familiar face in a white cloak. "Mother" she whispered. It was then she realized that she was in Azarath. "I thought Azarath perished."
Arella smiled. "Azarath has always been here. After you have defeated Trigon, our home has been restored." Raven scrunched her eye brows together. Arella frowned. "What is it my dear" she reached out and cupped the side of Raven's face.
"Mother. I still feel him. He's inside me. He's trying to get out and I don't know what to do" a tear slid down the side of her face. "He's giving me all these fake emotions and thoughts so I can lose control and get him out." Arella pulled Raven into a tender hug, Raven buried her face into her mother's arms.
"What are these feelings" Arella asked as she stroked her daughters hair. Raven's cheeks blushed. Suddenly Arella released a small laugh, pulling away from her daughter. "My dear, that has nothing to do with Trigon." Raven shook her head, trying to get the words out. "Raven dear. What you are feeling. What you cannot control. That is love." Raven's face scrunched together, disgusted like telling a five year old that someone has a crush on them. "You cannot control love. It is something that can never be controlled."
"but-" she was cut off by her mother lifting her chin up.
"You wish to fight it, but you cannot. The monks have trained you since you were young to suppress your emotions. To hide what you feel. To control your emotions and remain emotionless. But love cannot be hidden. Love cannot be controlled." she stroke a strand of hair. "It has been years since I had last seen you. And the very first day I reunite with my daughter again, and she is worried about falling in love" Raven couldn't help but smile. Her mother was caring and loving. Something that Raven could never be.
"Mother. How did I get here?" Raven finally questioned as she looked around.
Arella smiled. "You wished for escape. Your physical body has not arrived at Azarath. Only your spirit and soul. I can see you because we are at the temple. The citizens at the city could not because your body is back on earth." Raven's face fell. "Which is why you feel the weight off, you do not have those pestering emotions" Raven couldn't help but laugh, she always laughed and smiled when her mother was around. "Now get some sleep, this problem will be fixed before you now it"
The changeling sat beside Raven in a chair, his head buried his arms. His fingertips barely touching Raven's. Cyborg was nestled beside the computer, fast asleep with a long big chord stuck to his chest. Starfire and Robin both asleep in each others arms on the couch. Suddenly, Raven's heart beat picked up. Going faster and faster. Cyborg shot up. He unplugged himself and quickly began to check on his patient, but then froze.
Raven's hand was intertwined with knocked out beast boy, he looked at the heart monitor seeing it going over board. Cyborg titled his head with curiosity and slowly pulled their hands apart. He looked back at the monitor to see that her heart beat was slowly going down. "Well I'll be damned" he muttered to himself exhausted.
Slowly, Raven started to wake up. Cyborg checked the monitor screen. 'Raven' sat up carefully and giggled. Cyborg titled his head and saw her sneakingly slip her fingers between Beast Boys. "Love" he said shocked. Love giggled while waving.
"Hiya!" she said cheerfully. Cyborg stood there and watched as Raven's heart beat picked up. It made sense. It was clear as day. Love was the one who caused all the trouble. She was the emotion Raven couldn't control. And it was because she had feelings for his best friend. His mouth opened, gaping at the two. "shhh you might wake up Gar" she whispered. She sighed happily. "Isn't he just dreamy"
"you're the emotion Raven tried to lock away" shocked was an understatement. "Why haven't I met you before!"
Love sighed. "Rae likes to keep me away because of Gar. I can't help it. Ever since the Penny, I've been breaking lose." Love smiled at the changeling who was slightly drooling. "Rae doesn't agree, but I'm her heart for goodness sake! I know what she wants! And what she wants is beast boy!" Love huffed.
"So that has nothing to do with the fact that Trigon is giving her fake emotions?"
Love giggled. "No, she just thinks that. Trigon is inside her yes. But not in rage. Trigon is trapped in a special place that only knowledge knows! Trigon has been loud and hurting Raven lately, so she thinks that I'm just going to cause her pain and make her lose control. But that's what love does! It makes you lose control!" Love explained. "Trust me on this Cyborg. Raven. All of the other emoticlones are deeply in love with Beast boy. Raven just hasn't admitted it to herself. So I sent her off."
"YOU WHAT?" Cyborg screamed. It woke up the other titans. Beast boy shot up in a ready to go fighting stance along with Starfire and Robin. "HOW. WHAT. WHY. YOU. UGHHH." Cyborg couldn't get the words out. He was too shocked and confused. Love just giggled.
"Is happy back?" Beast boy asked as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Worse" Cyborg declared. "Love"
"Raven has that emotion" Beast boy asked in a deadpan voice. Causing Robin and Starfire to hit him in the back of the head. "ouch! What?" Love just giggled as she batted her eyelashes. "so what's going on?" Beast boy yawned.
Cyborg glared at Love. "Well Ms. cupid over here was the one who sent Raven away." The titans yelled what angrily as Love laughed nervously. She smiled bright.
"It's no where bad. I promise! But she just needed to see things and listen. She was ignoring me! I'm a part of her and she thought I was wrong! So I sent her to the one person who's always in her heart." she stayed silent as the titans stares went down. Beast boy heart was thumping.
"WELL WHERE IS SHE?" Beast boy yelled not handling the silence. Before Love could throw in another word, a bright light appeared, a white portal was opening. The titans got ready in their fighting stances, ready to aim. Love already knew who it was and tackled Beast boy down. The portal closed. Standing in front of them was something in a white cloak that was similar to Raven's. The person lowered her cloak to reveal her purple hair and violet eyes. Beast boy couldn't help but stare along with the other titans. Her face held a friendly smile. Her eyes danced with joy and laughter.
"You must be Raven's friends and teammates. The teen titans. I'm Arella. Raven's mother" All the titans gaped at the women in front of them. She was beautiful and now realized where Raven's looks came from. "I see another one of Raven's emotions have caused trouble" Arella raised an eyebrow as she put her hands to her hips. Love laughed nervously.
"I'm sorry Arella, but you're daughter is stubborn! She just wouldn't listen and well one thing led to another and I knew she would listen to you!" Love continued to blab on.
"Wait, where is she?" Robin asked. Arella smiled.
"Would you like to see where Raven grew up?" They all nodded. "Follow me" Arella put her hood up as she opened another portal. They all followed her into it. Arella leading the way followed by Beast boy giving Love a piggy back ride since she 'doesn't know how to work Raven's body'. Behind them was Cyborg then Robin and Starfire. The portal swirled with white and black, specks then strips, all changing so fast. The colors changing. Cyborg looked around amazed. Love hugging Beast boy tighter then eventually passing out, leaving a limp Raven on his back.. The surroundings soon changed, they all looked around in fascination. Eventually their surrounds turned into a temple. Arella stopped as she pulled her hood back down.
"I welcome you. To Azarath"
They all continued to follow Arella down a path. It was silent. Once they reached a step, they heard a lovely tune. Arella smiled. "Are you aware that Raven knows how to play the piano" The titans looked shocked.
"Yes." they all looked at beast boy shocked that he knew such a thing. "I heard her play once when we saved that music store, she kept a grand piano but she keeps it in the basement." They continued to walk higher. The piano getting louder.
"She quit when the monks realized that she lost control of her emotions. She cannot do most things due to her lack of control." Arella gave a weak smile to the team. "Since her physical body is not intact she has taken the moment to do the things she cannot do." They reached the top, seeing the setting was beyond beautiful. A blossom tree was there, pink leaves falling gracefully as the tune continued. A grand piano was underneath the tree. Playing it was no other than Raven. Her eyes focused on the keyboard, a small smile was placed upon her face.
Beast Boy smiled at the smiling Raven, it was a rare sight to see. Raven smiling. Not a small smile but a full, smile. It was rare to the point where no one had even seen it. Until now. As the piece she played slowly went to a stop she turned around. Her face confused. "How did you guys find me?"
"Your mom" Cyborg said as he pointed toward Arella. "Now how do we get you back into your body"
"Remind me to kill a certain emotion" Raven muttered toward her mother, who merely laughed as she put an arm around her daughter.
"Remember what we talked about. You cannot control-"
"I heard you the first time mother" Raven's cheeks turned pink as she tried to hide it with her hood. "Let's just get this done with" she walked over to Beast boy who carried her body. "Put me down beast boy" Beast boy obeyed and carefully laid Raven on the floor. Raven walked toward her body and muttered a small incantation to let her reenter her body. Black circulated around them, which quickly faded. A sudden pain hit Raven's chest, causing her to fall to her knees. All the air in her lungs disappeared and she began gasping for air.
Beast boy quickly knelt beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist. He used his other hand to brush her hair back. The air wouldn't go through, the pain was still there. She kept gasping. "What's wrong with her" Beast boy asked worried. Arella muttered an incantation. Raven screamed as she was forced into her body. Her body shaking, losing control. Arella held her head and continued to chant. Robin unsure of what was going on.
"What's happening?" Robin asked, confused and nearly losing it.
"Her body won't accept her" Cyborg yelled as he did some calculations. "Love, Rage, and Happiness won't let her in. Her emotions are pulling her out!"
Beast boys heart broke at the sight in front of him, Raven's screams cracked his heart. "DO SOMETHING!" Beast boy yelled. Arella stopped chanting, trying to catch her breathe, she fell on her knees beside her daughter. Raven was unconscious. Just as this scene was taking place. The last pink cherry blossom fell onto Beast boy's hand. He looked around him, the surroundings was a sad sight to see. The piano destroyed, the tree nearly burned. The team, shocked and confused. Arella stroking her daughter's hair. The broken girl, remained still. "Come on Raven" he whispered as he crushed the peddle in his hand.
