Author's Note: Sorry for the long lead-up, but I thought it was necessary to put in all the background information before we get to the fighting. (And there will be fighting ;)). Also, just for clarity's sake, the Arella-Trigon story line is borrowed from the comic books, where Raven's conception is due to Arella's involvement in a cult that seeks to bring the devil to earth. When Trigon does surface, he rapes Arella, causing Raven's existence. It's mostly that and language that earned this story the T rating. Thanks for the reviews, they're super helpful, especially since I'm new at this. More please?
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans or the comic books, etc. etc.
When the others got back later that day, it was to an empty house and a broken lamp.
"Guys? Raven? Robin?"
Beast Boy's voice echoed eerily around the room, but didn't receive a response.
Stafire bent and touched one of the many shard of glass that littered the carpet.
"I wish to know what has happened here."
Cyborg crossed the room and examined the couch, part of which had been burned away.
"You and me both. There isn't enough destruction for a full-on battle, but…"
"There wasn't one." Robin's voice made them all jump.
Starfire's eyes were puzzled as she looked at him, sparkling with an intensity that was rarely present.
"Robin, what has happened?"
He sighed and crossed the room to repeat the monologue he'd made to Raven. She hovered in the corner, unnoticed, feeling their shock, their worry, and their concern for her. That last one in particular made her stomach twist with gratitude and guilt. Nobody noticed her standing there, and she wasn't particularly interested in enlightening them. She wasn't convinced she could keep even a semblance of calm when their anxious questions hit her. Even the sound of her name made her jump and wince. It came from Starfire.
"If the Trigon is indeed still alive, is Raven then in danger?"
Robin rubbed the back of his neck, uncharacteristically uncertain.
"I don't know, Star. She seemed afraid, but…" A frustrated sigh escaped his lips, and Raven flinched as she drew further back into the shadows. 'Afraid', in this instance, was the understatement of the year. "I wish she would let me see what she was thinking, just once."
Beast Boy exchanged a glance with Cyborg.
"Dude, trust me, you do not want into Raven's head."
A smirk flickered across her face at that. Their first encounter with Trigon had been far earlier than anyone else's, and it had taken weeks for Cyborg to stop jumping when she used her powers. She didn't really mind people being afraid of her. It was even advantageous more often than not. Robin folded his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow.
"Be as that may, I'm worried about her. She's always been Trigon's main target, and now that she's banished him…"
"He'll want revenge."
Cyborg finished the sentence when Robin couldn't, and Raven shut her eyes tightly, fighting the memories of her childhood that she would so much rather forget.
The citadel was undeniably beautiful, its spires defying gravity as they reached for the hazy sky. The walls were punctured by graceful arches, through which sunlight streamed, dappling the cobblestones with a rusty brilliance. Ravan hated the place.
"Do not worry, child. The monks will care for you. I cannot."
Arella's eyes were huge as she looked down at her daughter. She was beautiful, innocent, and quite literally the spawn of Satan. Raven's lip trembled as she looked at her mother, eyes filling with tears that she had not yet learned to suppress.
"But mother…"
Arella flinched. Rachel looked nothing like her father, but there were still little hints; her supernatural powers, her ability to speak perfectly at a little over two years old, and the red that sometimes flashed in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. You do not understand what he did to me, but you will one day. And you will understand why I cannot raise you."
Raven had stood at the entrance to the citadel for a long time, seeking comprehension that was denied to her. Well, now she understood all right, and it made her insides burn. The only reason she was alive was because her mother had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. And the only reason she was safe was because of her unwilling mother's ingenuity. Arella had left her in the safest place she could manage, but it hadn't worked. He had gotten to Raven nonetheless, gotten in through her mind and tortured her for years until the monks had taught her to control him. To control, but never to extinguish. I was protected by the monks of Azarath...I was raised by my friends...
With some effort, she returned to herself, to the conversation at hand. The Titans had, thankfully, abandoned the topic of Raven and moved on to battle tactics. Silently, she stood and melted into the wall behind her. The sudden blackness attracted Robin's attention. She sensed him behind her, following her.
"Were you listening the whole time?"
She paused, but did not turn.
"Not entirely."
"You know, it would be nice to have some advanced warning when you're eavesdropping."
There was humor in his voice, but his tone was layered with a sincerity that she was unprepared for. She turned slowly to face him, lowering the hood of her robe.
"Sorry."
He was taken off guard by the look on her face. He hadn't seen her since that morning, and she seemed to have aged ten years since. Not that he could blame her.
"What?"
Her monotone was even more expressionless than usual, as though it was taking all her energy just to ask the question. Robin shook his head.
"Asking you if you're going to be okay is probably pointless, right?"
The lines around her mouth softened slightly as she floated down until her feet touched the floor.
"Probably, but I appreciate it anyway."
He looked at her for a moment, unable to entirely understand the sudden urge to wrap his arms around her. He almost followed through on the impulse too; Robin wasn't one to hesitate. But he respected her personal space, if only because he was afraid she would hurt him if he didn't. Instead, he asked,
"Anything I can do?"
"Thanks, but I have to handle this alone."
He raised an eyebrow.
"That's what you said last time."
A slow smile touched her lips.
"I meant my emotions, not Trigon. Though I may have to handle him alone too."
She put her index fingers against her temples and leaned against the wall, fighting the urge to teleport out of this situation and onto a planet far, far away. Robin folded his arms across his chest, trying desperately to resist his sudden and unruly urge to brush his fingers along her jaw.
"Will you come back to the meeting? We kind of need you for this."
If anyone but you had asked me that, I would have refused. Instead, Raven nodded in a brief acquiescence and melted into blackness, reappearing in the living room, where Beast Boy and Cyborg were arguing.
"Dude! I'm telling you, there is no way I am going into that guy's ear again!"
"Well how else are we supposed to get his attention?"
"I don't know, but being covered in demon earwax was worse than fighting that demon Beast Boy."
Starfire hovered in front of them, looking anxious.
"Friends, please. Robin will determine our tactics. We must wait for his plan for defeating the Trigon."
"No way that spiky-haired little freak is ordering me around this time! He wasn't even there!"
Robin cleared his throat, raising an eyebrow under the mask just as Raven materialized and sank onto the couch, face once again obscured by her hood. The other three titans glanced at each other, unsure of what exactly to do. Starfire was the first to react, albeit in an unhelpful fashion.
"Friend Raven! You are well after learning of the Trigon's escape?"
The look Raven gave her was enough to melt flesh, even from under the hood.
"I'm fine, Starfire. Thanks for asking."
Paling, Starfire moved as far away as she could get.
"Um. That is excellent. You wish me to stop the pestering now yes?"
At that point, Robin saved her from further embarrassment by striding to the front of the room and flicking on the computer systems.
"All right. This meeting is finally in session. Now how are we going to beat this guy?"
Blue Emo Bunny: Thanks! Yeah, I was kinda toying with the pairing. To be honest, I don't really know myself how it's going to turn out.
theblackbirdsong: Thank ya kindly. I'm excited too. ;)
ToastedCroissants: Lol the pairing confusion is probably because I hadn't decided on a pairing until recently. I'm a huge fan of BB x Rae, since it's canon and super cute, but for this story, RaeRob just worked better. I feel like BB x Rae is only really good when the Titans are a little older and Beast Boy has matured somewhat and gotten over Terra, but nothing's written in stone... Thanks so much for the second review, and for the advice. I changed the spacing right away. :)
H'sfreedom: Aww, thanks! 3
