Her knuckles hurt in the morning but she didn't care. Actually, everything hurt. Her legs mostly, then her arms, but what seemed to hurt the most a faint beating in her chest, which, with every pulse, sent waves of pain to spread through her body. However, through the steady throbbing pain, Raven felt none of it. Everything was a whirl of sounds and colors that she refused to comprehend. Understanding would mean that she would have to accept the lies that Cyborg had told her and she would never do that.
"Raven?" Cyborg's head appeared in front of her but she ignored it. Her blank stare didn't falter or show any signs that she saw him. "Raven." His hand gently touched her skin (or as gently as a robot could touch) and she flinched, finally sending an empty gaze in his general direction.
"You need to get up Raven. You need to walk around, get used to using your muscles again."
She didn't reply, only transfixed her stare back to the clock on the opposite wall.
"I know, you can help me in the garage. That always made you feel better."
She visibly tensed. "That's impossible," she said softly, "I don't even know you."
He sighed, worry etched deeply in his face. "This isn't who your are Raven and you know it. The Raven I knew would never be in denial—"
"Then you must've known a different Raven," she replied quickly, "And it's not denial if it's not true."
He looked frustrated, almost angry with her, his stern glare pierced through her like a needle. However, though as intimidating as he may be, Raven glared right back with the same ferocity.
Then, realizing what he was trying to do, Raven almost laughed. Almost.
He couldn't win. She was Raven; the all-powerful, all-knowing, how-dare-you-challenge-her-in-a-staring-contest, Teen Titan. Since when did Cyborg ever beat her in a staring contest? He never—
She blinked rapidly and pulled her face away, mentally punishing herself for thinking such a thing. Fear took over her and she turned away from Cyborg as if looking at him any longer would force more horrible thoughts into her head.
"What's wrong?" Cyborg asked. Raven could hear the smugness in his voice. After all, it's not everyday that you beat the champion.
"N-nothing," she said quicker that she wanted. She steadied her voice and her emotions and tried again. "It's nothing. I just got something in my eye. It's nothing."
She was not a Titan. She was Raven. Just Raven.
Cyborg stared at her; his robotic eye noticing her quickened heartbeat and increased body temperature. She was lying.
"Raven," he started slowly, "Did you…?"
Her head snapped to him. "No. There's nothing to remember."
He frowned, his eye focusing and refocusing but she had quickly recovered herself and he couldn't read anymore into her.
Suddenly, his face lit up and he smiled. "I'll prove that you've been with us for four years."
"And how will you do that? I'm not going to believe all your stories."
"No," he was excited now, nearly jumping out of his seat, "I have a computer hard drive that records all my memories. I'll plug myself to the TV and show you that you've been with us."
For an instant, Raven was frightened. It was easy to deny stories but actually watching herself. If it was true, Raven would have to accept everything.
"Let's go to the living room. We can watch it there." He stood up and started to the door. "Are you coming?" he asked when Raven didn't move from her bed.
"What, no help or anything?" she said wryly.
He only laughed. "Nope. You need to use your muscles, remember?" His sudden cheerfulness was contagious and Raven almost smiled, just able to stop herself before did.
Shakily, she got out of bed, using the machines for support. Her legs were sore, even sorer now that she was standing up, and it took her a couple minutes to be able to steady herself without holding anything.
She took an unsteady foot forward, then another with every footstep becoming surer than the last. She made it to him waiting patiently at the other side of the door.
"I have a present for you," said Cyborg, obviously hiding something behind his back.
Her face hid all emotion but she couldn't help a feeling of anticipation in her stomach.
Cyborg pulled a piece of cloth from behind his back and handed it to her. At first she thought it was just a worn blanket or an old jacket, but as she unfolded it and ran the cloth through her fingers, she smiled in surprise.
Her cloak.
"Ah, a smile. Haven't seen one of those in a while." Raven shot him a not-so-evil glare as she pulled the cloak over herself with practiced ease. Surprisingly, the cloak wasn't too big. In fact, it was perfect for her seventeen-year-old form.
When cloak was comfortably over her shoulders and hood was securely placed, she followed Cyborg down the winding halls and the unending pathways of the tower. How he had memorized his way through this labyrinth, she would never know.
"Almost there," Cyborg muttered. He seemed to have noticed Raven's lagging walk even though she tried her best not to show it.
When they finally reached the living room, Raven was more than happy to sit down and rest her legs. However, as soon as she looked at the old, stained couch, she had a sudden urge to keep standing.
"Here, sit down," Cyborg said, patting one of the only clean spots near him. Raven sat uncomfortably on the sofa trying not to touch anything.
"This first one is when we started the team, about four years ago."
"Mind telling me why you're always by yourself?" The view was from Cyborg's eyes and the first screen showed a very dejected-looking Raven.
She looked up warily. "You heard the kid. I don't exactly fit in," Raven replied solemnly.
Cyborg only smiled and put a large hand on her small shoulders. "He's green, half of me is metal, and she's from space. You fit in just fine."
Raven nodded, not looking too convinced, but followed anyway.
Another scene flashed while Raven could only stare wide-eyed at the TV.
"Oh a movie! Tell me, what is the name of this film?" The Tamaranian came in and flew over the couch, sitting daintily next to Cyborg. After looking at him questionably then glancing to an awestruck Raven, she watched the screen. "Oh," she whispered.
"Fourteen milkshakes. Not a good sign." The gothic teen sat next to Cyborg apparently at loss for words to comfort the half-robot.
"What are you doing here?" he said still not making eye contact.
"Looking for your car. Soon as we turned Overload in to the police, we all split up to search the city."
"Might as well stop looking. T-Car's probably halfway to Metropolis by now." He paused as if recalling a good memory. " From the day I designed her, I knew she was gonna be special. And I worked so hard, every fuel injector, every spark plug, I made her perfect. I put my heart, soul, and circuits into that car. And now she's gone forever." The good memory disappeared and he let his hands fall depressingly into his lap. "Maybe you were right. Maybe it was just a car."
Although her mask was carefully placed, one could barely see a hint of concern on her features.
"Maybe. Maybe not. When I use my powers, I have to put a little of my soul into whatever I'm moving. I become a part of it, and it becomes a part of me. That's kinda what happened here. It wasn't just a car. It was..." She paused as if contemplating her next words and whether or not it would attack her dignity, "…your baby."
Cyborg smiled. "Yeah."
"Aw, sweet! Movie night!" The green teenager, someone Raven hadn't seen before, morphed into a dog and leapt over the couch. Raven took her eyes off the screen for a moment to look at the changeling who had turned back into a human. Almost instantly, Raven had to urge to throw something sharp and heavy at the boy.
Everything now was unclear and out of focus. The video often fizzled out before rebooting and coming back to something distinguishable. Even the audio was poor; noises were often cut off and it was hard to follow the dialogue.
"What hope can a mere child have of defeating her all-powerful father?"
The small, cloaked girl looked up from her fallen leader and scowled at the demon. "You may have created me…" For a moment everything turned white but slowly, as the camera adjusted to the light, one could make out Raven, now seventeen and clad in a shining white cloak. "…but you were never my father." Light radiated from her hands and she almost effortlessly shot the magic at the demon's chest.
The camera finally was still and it focused, showing Raven angrily walking past them.
"Wretched, insignificant—"
"Fathers are kind! Fathers protect you! Fathers raise you!" Trigon stumbled back from another blast glaring hatefully at the girl.
"I was protected by the monks of Azerath. I was raised by my friends. They are my family…This is my home…" Another wave of anger boiled up in her and she blasted him again. "And you are not welcome here!"
An enormous white raven was summoned and it towered majestically over Trigon before, finally, swallowing him whole.
A flash of white blinded the camera and after a few seconds, it refocused. The sky was now a bright blue and the buildings, once shattered and crumbled, were restored to their former glory.
"Raven…that was…" The Tamaranian was lost for words, gesturing random movements with her hands.
"…Unbelievable," Cyborg finished, his mouth open with wonder.
"No," answered Raven, the smallest of smile coming to her lips, "It wasn't." She turned to the arriving Robin and threw two arms around his neck in a fierce hug. "Somebody believed."
"Welcome back." Robin embraced her tightly, almost as tight as she did him.
"Okay," Beastboy cut in, "you're freaking me out here!" Raven quickly composed herself. "The white robe and smile were weird enough, but hugs? Are you still…you?"
"Blue is still my favorite color. And don't get used the smile…" her mouth fell to a straight line and her expression was, once again, indifferent, "…'cause you're still not funny."
Raven let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and turned to Cyborg. "That was…me." It was the most obvious statement in the world and Cyborg just nodded in agreement.
"That's our Raven. Kicking demons' butt and saving the universe," the green boy laughed, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye, "Ah, good times."
"Oh yes Raven! Now that you have regained your knowledge of us, we can go to the mall of shopping and participate in the getting of manicures and pedicures! Then…"
"Woah, Star," Cyborg interrupted, "It's a lot for Raven to take in for right now. Maybe we should hold off on the manicures."
And through all their rambling, they did not notice that Raven had stood up and walked to Robin who was leaning casually on the doorframe.
He greeted her with a warm smile. "Welcome back." She couldn't help but notice the angry bruise that had formed on his cheek when she hit him.
She wanted to say something, wanted to apologize but she couldn't. She only looked with sad eyes at the mask that seemed so familiar yet so…strange to her.
"Hey Rae! You want to help me in the kitchen? We're making waffles!" Cyborg's loud voice boomed through the room, causing Raven to jump.
"Tofu waffles!" the green boy chimed.
"Rae doesn't want no tofu waffles!"
Robin only smiled, urging her to follow them.
"Yes she does! Raven loves tofu! Don't you Raven?"
For that moment, everything seemed normal, as if she had woken up every morning to their fighting, to Starfire's cheerfulness, and Robin's warm smile. Maybe she had. "I'll be the judge of that," she said coolly letting the smallest of smiles that only Robin could see.
"How could you betray me?" Cyborg wailed, throwing his spatula up in mock despair. Determination flashed in his eye, "I'll fix you up right, Rae, you will not be a grass-muncher while I'm in this house!"
Raven rolled her eyes at the forbidden nickname but oddly enough, she didn't seem to mind. Too much.
A thousand apologies. I know it is really late but I was grounded. So, being brilliant, I decided to write it on some paper. And, being stupid, I lost the paper. I rerererewrote this chapter so many times I don't even know what draft this is. Meh. Well, hope you guys like, tell me what you think.
