32 Productions Presents…
A Teen Titan Fan FictionThe Teen Titans in…"Tales From the Tower"
Starfire's Room
Starfire: GEEE! Much better, do you not agree? What shall we endeavor to find next? Oh! How about…
Invitation
Dreary Apartment Complex
Was this the place? Raven looked at the address she had written down, then back to the sign. It didn't look like the sort of place he would be. While not a braggart, Shade had always been an extremely talented artist. His landscape drawings were captivating. She would know, she had kept one…after the…unfortunate incident. Sighing, Raven brushed her long purple hair from her face. It had been years since the day he quit the Titans and just…disappeared. He had specifically requested not to be bothered by them. It had been an ugly day. Tempers had run high. It hadn't been easy, tracking him down. That said, she wasn't about to give up now. Raven entered the complex and found the apartment number she was looking for, 4A. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door. A rasping answer came from the other side of the door.
Voice: Who is it?
Raven: Is this Derek Knight?
Voice: Who wants to know?
Raven: …Shade, it's me, Raven.
Tense silence was her reply. Raven could hear her heart pounding.
Derek: You had it right the first time, lady. I don't know anybody named "Shade" or "Raven".
Raven: Are you actually trying to lie to me? Are we forgetting who I am? What I can do?
Derek: Oh don't you DARE take that tone with me!
Yep, it was him. In the same voice he had used back then…well, a little deeper, but it was unmistakable. There came a cough from behind the door.
Derek: Just leave me alone…
Raven: Shade…it's time to put this all behind us. We were a family…
Derek: Don't call me that…Shade died some time ago.
Raven: It doesn't have to be that way…you can be Shade again.
She heard the locks being turned and the door opened. Raven found herself looking a little too high. He was in a wheelchair.
Derek: Does it look like I can come back from this?!
Raven was stunned. Of all the scenarios that ran through her mind, this one never occurred to her. She should have let Starfire do this. Snorting, Derek backed the wheelchair up.
Derek: Well, since you're standing there, come on in. You couldn't make things any worse, I guess.
Raven: Th…thank you.
Raven stepped inside. Surprisingly, the place was in decent shape. Clean, well kept… He caught her looking around.
Derek: …I…don't much reason to leave here. I do a lot of cleaning and working out.
That explained his appearance. His hair was a mess, but no more then she remembered. What was new was the white beard, pretty scraggily too. His upper body was big. Broad shoulders, thick arms…not bad at all.
Derek: Are you going to stare all day or did you have something you wanted to say?
Raven: Oh…I…I'm sorry. You look good…aside from the obvious exception, of course, but other then that, you look like you're doing well…you really need to lose that beard.
Derek: …you're looking well yourself.
She swallowed hard.
Raven: I won't beat around the bush…I…I'm getting married in three months…I want you to be there.
Derek: So it's not enough that you break my heart, then find me like this? You want to rub your successful love life in my face?
Raven: Trigon damn it, Sha…Derek, this isn't about that! That was years ago! Nine damn years ago to be exact! …you were a good friend before we got together and I want you to be that friend again. Everyone does. Even Garfield. Please…just say you'll be there.
Derek scowled.
Derek: I'll think about it.
Raven: …what happened? I…I didn't want to ask, but I have to know.
Derek was silent.
Derek: …after you broke up with me for finally growing balls…
That was pretty much what happened. Raven was berating him again and Shade had enough. He snapped at her, calling her a controlling, self righteous, arrogant bitch. Raven promptly slapped him. The fight escalated, each of them bringing up uglier and uglier memories and names. Finally Shade called her "Daddy's little girl". She turned away and told him that she was through with him. He spent weeks trying to earn her forgiveness, but she refused. Then she started going out with Beast Boy. Seeing that his relationship was truly impossible to repair, Shade became very irritable…especially with Beast Boy. In the end, he got into a serious fight with him. It ended with Beast Boy having a broken arm. He was immediately expelled. At first, Raven was furious at him…but in time came to understand why he had done it. For all his power and for all his intimidating demeanor, Shade was like a child. Raven had been there to help him when he needed it and for the first time in a long time, he had…someone. Someone he truly loved. And just for finally having enough of the abuse she gave him…abuse she now was willing to admit to…she kicked him to the curb.
Derek: …and I was kicked off the team for taking it out on "him", I decided to try my hand at solo crime fighting. …it went well enough for a while until…well…I was exposed to a special nerve gas. It caused me to develop multiple malfunctions in my nervous system. …I can't even hold a pencil anymore. I work at home on the computer, using shadows to type. …I pretty much use them for everything now. The working out brought my arms back to full use, but I can't fix my more delicate finger movements. Writing…drawing…typing…I can't do any of it. …walking is just plain out of the question. Too far away from the brain. I can barely make my toes move.
Raven: …Shade, I'm sorry. You were right. I was controlling. But you forgot stubborn. I just…couldn't make myself forgive you. I'm sorry. If I could take it all back, I would.
Derek: Stop calling me "Shade' and I'll go to your wedding.
Raven smiled.
Raven: You've got a deal, Derek. …you know…Argent was always sweet on you. If you like, I could see if she's still interested.
Derek: …heh…well, why the hell not? Just be sure to tell her what she's getting into.
Raven: I don't think words could ever describe it. …just…shave that before you come to my wedding, okay? You look like a hermit.
A huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. It was going to be okay. As Azar as her witness, Raven intended to make SURE it was going to be okay.
THE END