Disclaimer: I do not own the Titans :)
7. Serendipity
-O-
"That bitch," Jinx's voice shouted in Raven's ear as she paraded around her dark room with her cellphone posted against her ear. She wasn't much of a phone person or a talking person for that matter, but she really needed someone to talk to right now. She had already given Robin enough hell that day. Plus, he needed some time to himself to relax and try his best to forget everything they'd witnessed that morning. Yet, truth be told, she missed his safe and guarding touch.
At this point, it was around seven at night. The sun was just setting, allowing bright, white moonlight to seep through her semi-closed curtains, and the wind could be heard whistling on the other side of the window. She, unfortunately, was alone in the large mini mansion since her dad had gone on some kind of wicked business trip and she had sent all of their hardworking servants home. She actually regretted sending all of them away now. Company would be ideal at this point. Which was why she'd called Jinx, who was currently going off about the news reporter that had harassed her, Robin, and Bruce that afternoon.
The lady's name was Diana Prince, better known as, Wonder Woman in the superhero universe. Her otherworld counterpart was apparently a snobby bitch and the top leading newscaster in all of Jump City, which was definitely the opposite of how Raven knew her. But if there was one thing about the-this world Diana that she had in common with Wonder Woman, it was her unending ambition and independence. And that was always something Raven could admire.
"I mean, who does she think she is?!" Jinx's voice came again. She was beyond fed up with the words coming out of the woman's mouth on the T.V.
Raven sat on her bed and turned up the volume on her television. Diana was sitting at a desk reporting on the murders and showing frequent clips from Bruce's press conference that backed up her points. Bruce had declared a citywide curfew, which only made most kids rebel and throw parties just because they were told not to. But Raven, Jinx, and Robin had all smartly stayed in the comfort of their own homes.
Raven tuned out her thoughts and tuned into what Diana was yapping away about on her screen. "One of the teens murdered today was the known rival of one of the witnesses and the other was the ex-boyfriend of the other witness. Who's to say they aren't the suspects we're looking for? Who's to say they aren't coldblooded murderers?" Raven gasped at her bold accusation and reached for the remote to shut the T.V. off. Why did everyone think they should be the prime suspects? Even their own friend had accused them.
"See what I mean. The nerve," Jinx grunted. Then, softened up when she realized the seriousness of this all. Her best friend's boyfriend and a couple of her other friends were dead. It had to be harder than she could fathom. "Raven, I'm so sorry this all happened to you. I can't imagine how you feel right now. But I'm going to be right here by your side the whole time helping you get through it all."
"Thanks, Jinx," Raven started gently, rubbing her arms to warm herself in the cold room. "That means a lot."
"I think you should still do the show tomorrow. In Aqualad's honor since he was so excited for it. And maybe it'll take your mind off everything."
Raven lifted a confused eyebrow. "What show?"
"You know, the annual sing-off down at the café. You've been wanting to do it for so long and you finally found the courage to do it this year. I think Aqualad would be really proud of you if you stuck through with it."
Raven almost swallowed her dry tongue. Not many people back home knew of her hidden talent, but here it seemed to be common knowledge. She wasn't Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, but she figured she could at least give Beyoncé or Adele a run for their money. But even if it was common knowledge, there was no way she could go through with it. She hadn't sung in forever and plus there was just no way she'd ever sing in front of other people.
"No way," she replied after contemplating. "I can't sing in front of a crowd."
"What? Raven, you do it all the time. We've been planning this forever," Jinx debated. "You'll be fine."
Raven let out a long sigh as she realized she had to do it. The Raven from this world seemed as if she was much bolder and much more courageous with her actions than her. She wasn't a quiet, antisocial loner and actually had the nerve to get up and sing in front of someone other than her reflection, so Raven was going to have to find it, too.
"Okay," Raven finally gave in, causing Jinx to squeal on the other line. "What song was I singing again?"
"I don't know. You told us it was a surprise."
Raven rolled her eyes at her counterpart's attempt at being mysterious and told Jinx, "Oh yeah. Well, I'm going to go practice in the shower and hit the hay. I'll text you in the morning."
"Okay. Try not to touch yourself while you're in there."
Raven dry chuckled and hung up the phone on her new friend. She had to admit it felt good to have another girl she could tell all her secrets and feelings. Sure, she had Starfire back at the tower but she wasn't exactly the type of person Raven could connect with. Raven had to admit, she did try her best though.
The alone girl tossed her phone on the bed and reached for a soft, white towel and her blue, satin robe then made her way to the shower. The house was so still and silent, it really unsettled her and put her on the edge of chickening out. She told herself the eeriness of the place was all in her head and started the hot, steamy water of the shower. She slowly eased out of her clinging, sweaty clothes and long boots and turned to admire herself in the full-length mirror.
'What did Aqualad see in me?' she thought, immediately dampening her own mood. She hated the fact that her skin was so dull and gray and her hair was vibrant yet limp. Even worse in her mind, her eyes were colored so oddly they made every stranger that noticed them stare. Worst of all, she was short and petite which in turn caused her body to be thick and stumpy. She wished she had Starfire's long legs and slenderness, but they were both something her body would never let her achieve.
She continued to stare at her trembling lips and hollow eyes until to the steam of the hot shower fogged the mirror. She gradually eased her foot into the scorching water and instantly drew it back when the droplets burned her skin. She quickly turned the cold water up and submerged her body and soul under the waves of the showerhead. The day had been so long and tiresome, she couldn't help but feel vulnerable. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get the images of Speedy's hanging body and Aqualad's floating one out her brain. Their scared and empty faces were all she could see.
The only good thing about today was how many times Robin had held her in his arms. The last time he'd held her so close to him was when he had caught her falling body after Slade had pushed her to her death. After breaking her fall, he lifted her up and carried her all the way back to the tower without any complaints and without ever loosening his grip. His grip that made her feel so safe and so hopeful like she could do anything she put her mind to if he was right there beside her. His grip that almost made her feel…loved or at least something like it. She knew without a doubt that their bond and friendship were two things that were unbreakable.
With those thoughts now on her mind, many song ideas came rushing inside her head. But there was one whose lyrics stood out to her the most, and they were the perfect words to get him to acknowledge that maybe just maybe she thought of him as more than a friend.
Clank! A sound shot off in the distant. Raven's closed eyes popped open under the harsh water, making her usually clear eyes turn bloodshot red. She continued brushing her soapy loofah over her wet body, but now she was definitely more on edge and aware of her surroundings.
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! The sound came again but this time louder and more frequently. Her breathing suddenly became heavy and frantic as she twisted the shower knob, so that she could listen more intently. What were those noises? There was no one else there or anyone that was supposed to be coming, so she thought.
She felt fed up tears wailing up in her eyes as she slowly moved the solid black, shower curtain with caution. She had to be sure there was nothing that would make her heart stop standing on the other side of it. Thankfully, the bathroom was empty, even though her reflection in the mirror almost made her cry out in fright. She clamped her hand over her trembling mouth as she began to hear the soft stomps of shoes moving around upstairs. She resisted the urge to cry out yet again and gradually made her way over to the royal blue robe that was hanging on the door. She quickly but silently slipped it on, not caring that her body was still soaking wet, and tied the strings tight around her waist. She looked around the lavatory for anything remotely close to a weapon and ended up settling on a wrench that was twisted tightly around the pipe behind the toilet. She gripped the wrench hard in her palm and braced herself for whatever she was getting ready to face outside that room. She sucked up her fear and put on a face of bravery before stepping out into the light.
But what she saw was something that was much more frightening than her demonic father or a greedy burglar with a gun to her head. At the end of the long hall was a figure dressed in an ankle-length, all-black robe, black no-slip boots, black, leather gloves, and a stark white mask that had the face of an unnerving ghostly entity. In the fist of this uninvited person was a butcher's knife as sharp as cheddar that had a blade so spotless, it was reflecting the light above them like a prism.
For some reason, seeing the figure standing there in complete, unmoving silence made the blood in her throbbing veins curl more and her heart thump rapidly against her rib cage. She had no idea when it would make a move or even what its move would be. And to her, that was much more deadly.
She closed her eyes for three seconds to silently ask Azar to give her the courage and strength to fight this evil being without her powers. But when she opened her eyes, the figure was running towards her full force with the knife high in the air, ready to slice her wet skin. She panicked and flung the silver, rusting wrench right at its head, causing the person to stumble back and onto the carpeted floor of the hall. Raven used the fall to her advantage and took off down the hall towards her room to grab her cell phone. She hurriedly typed in the long passcode she had placed for security reasons and looked for Robin's name in the contacts, but before she could press call, her hair was being yanked from the back in every direction.
The killer held the sharp, glistening knife to her gulping throat while still pulling her head back by her long hair. "Please," she whined as tears ran down her pale face, "you don't have to do this."
For some strange reason, the killer's grip on her hair loosened, so she used this mistake to make her move. She forced her petite body away from its taller one and spun around to whack it with her fist in what she assumed was its jaw. Whoever it was grunted in anger, straightened its neck, and lunged towards her. She gasped and took off running again with her phone surprisingly still in her hand and the killer not far behind. At this point, she really wished she could multitask and call Robin while simultaneously running for her life. But she probably would've fallen to her death if she tried.
As she approached the top of the stair case, she purposely reduced her speed so that the killer would be even closer to her. When her foot was about to touch the first step, she impulsively jumped to the side with her leg out, tripping the killer. And down the figure went. Its body was slamming and rolling down the steps so hard and fast, Raven was certain it was either dead or at least had numerous broken bones. Believing herself to be lucky, she used that chance to call Robin.
"Robin!" she screamed the moment the phone stopped ringing, not even giving him a chance to say hello.
"Raven, are you okay?" He was already in leader mode from the sound of her panicky voice.
"No, the killer's here! I just tripped him down the stairs! I think he's dead," she rushed, almost out of breath.
"Are you sure?" Was his next question, which actually caught her off guard. She hadn't thought to be sure that it was dead or hurt. Now, she was almost scared to check. And scared she should've been. When she looked back to the edge of the staircase, all she saw was vacuumed carpet and an indent where the stranger's body once lay.
"Shit! He's gone," she hissed and turned to look behind her. There was no way he could get up the stairs without her realizing? Right? Right?!
"Raven, hold tight! I'm coming over right now!" Robin's worried voice caused her to jump in her skin.
"NO!" she begged. "Robin, please don't. Call the police, but don't come over here! I don't want anything to happen to you!"
On the other side of the street, Robin was already heading her way. The moment she called him screaming like she was in danger, he hopped out of bed and out of his sorrow from what they'd witnessed that day and slipped into his jeans from earlier. Then, he rushed out the door without shoes or a jacket and with the hot phone still in his hand. There was no way he was going to let anything happen to her. He didn't need the police. He could protect her all on his own.
Then, after a strange silence, he heard her breathing become shallow then erratic then shallow again as if she was being strangled. Right afterwards, he heard a wail and what sounded to be a struggle between her and another person. He could hear all kinds of grunting, smacks, slaps, and punches being made. Whoever this person was, was definitely going to be in for it when he got there.
"Raven!" Robin screamed into the receiver; his legs didn't seem to be getting him there fast enough. "Raven, answer me! Are you okay?"
"Robin," her voice was weak and wheezy, almost as if she was barely breathing, "I think he's gone again. He was raising the knife up to stab me, then you called my name and he just ran away."
"Are you—Ugh!" Robin grunted as he ran smack dab into another person. His phone was now smashed to pieces on the ground. He was about to curse whoever the person was when he looked up and saw a familiar red bed of hair.
"Robin, what's up?" It was Kid Flash. He had obviously been running, too, as evident by his panting and the sweat beads trickling down his forehead. He was wearing a thick, black sweater and warm, black, track pants. His jaw looked to be bruised and his skin was red as if he had just gotten into a fight or an embarrassing situation.
"Wally," Robin uttered dumbstruck. "What are you doing over here?"
Kid Flash tried his best to calm his breathing before hunching a shoulder. "I always go for a nightly run through the neighborhood. I'm not much of a morning person, so I can't do the morning run-thing everyone else does."
Robin eyed him suspiciously and inspected everything about him from his limp, stringy, red hair to his happy, blue eyes to his playful smirk. "Oh…yeah."
"Going to visit Raven, I see? I guess you're taking advantage of the whole Aqualad-dying-thing," the boy teased and crossed his arms over his heaving chest. Then, his smirk fell as he realized what he'd said. "Eh…that was kind of inappropriate. Forget I said that."
"I'll be sure to," Robin forced and tried to walk away, but KF's hard palm on his chest stopped him.
"Kind of crazy how they died, huh?" he asked with an unsteady almost nervous voice and shook his head at the ground. "Kind of makes you wonder if we're next."
Robin growled to himself and spat, "We're not next. Nobody's next." And with that, he shoved the redhead out his way and jogged to Raven's place. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the front door was already ajar, so he welcomed himself in. He looked around the destroyed foyer and living room area as he made his way in. Plants and vases were broken and strewn everywhere. The once mounted television was laying shattered on the ground and the furniture had been moved out of place. The entire area looked as if a whirlwind had come through and torn it apart.
"ARGH!" A red and feisty Raven suddenly came rushing towards him with a heavy, black hammer in her hands, but she halted as soon as she realized it was Robin and not the killer. "Robin!"
Robin would say the quick transformation from bad ass fighter to damsel in distress the fragile girl made was nothing short of amazing. "Raven," he whispered and pulled her into a relieved hug. "You're alright. What happened? Did he hurt you?"
"He choked me and tried to stab me, but I'm okay," she assured him, her normally raspy voice a little hoarse and feeble. She pulled away from the boy and massaged her neck where the killer had tightened its hands. Its fingerprints were already leaving blue and purple bruises around the long, slender part of her body.
"Raven," Robin started and watched as she winced in pain, "are you sure you're okay? Do you want to go to the hospital? I can still call the cops if you want."
"No," Raven forced, closing her wet eyes in the process. "I'm fine. I just want to forget this happened and get the hell out of this place."
"I think the key to figuring out how to get out of here is figuring out who the killer is," he replied, making Raven sigh. She knew it was the truth but she didn't want to hear or believe it. Despite all she'd been through and survived in her life, she was terrified of facing the person who was murdering all of their friends and the person who'd almost succeeded in executing her. She just felt so helpless and weak, and that wasn't her at all.
"Okay, but can we do it tomorrow?" she questioned like a pleading child. "I just want to rest and forget right now."
Robin exhaled and examined the begging eyes of the girl in front of him. He'd never seen her so frail and exhausted. It was definitely a sore sight for his eyes to see. "Of course, Rae. It's been a long day," he said after a minute, then turned his leader voice back on, "But I'm going to circle around the block. Make sure I don't see anything or anyone suspicious."
"No," she choked out and fell to her knees. She posted herself up on her forearms and just let the depression and anxiety that was creeping up take over her. "No…"
"Raven," Robin immediately ran to her side. He kneeled on one knee and took her chin in his fingers. "What's wrong?"
Raven refused to look into the dark glasses that were covering his eyes and instead focused her violet orbs on the tan carpet their knees were pressed into. "D-don't leave me," she stuttered, her voice still rough yet quiet. "I can't take being alone anymore. I was alone back home. I'm alone here. I can't take it anymore, Robin."
"Raven," he rushed without thinking about what he should say, "you're never alone as long as I'm here. I'm always a call away if you need me."
"What I'm dealing with isn't some villain you can just fight, Robin," she spat angrily and forced her chin out of his grip. "I'm not Starfire. You can't just buy me a rose and take me shopping to make me feel better. Because when I go home, my heart still feels cold and empty and I still feel lost and confused about my place in this world. Or in our world…or in any world…"
Robin blinked in shock. He had no idea that these were the type of thoughts running through her head each night and day. Now he understood her diminished mood around the tower lately. "Raven, I have to admit, I don't know the right thing to say. I could possibly be saying the wrong thing right now as I speak," he paused and swallowed a huge gulp of spit. "But I want to help you get rid of that coldness and emptiness in your heart. I can help you find your place in any world. I don't know how, but if you know me, I won't give up until we succeed in making you happy. Because what are best friends for?"
Raven laughed a mute chuckle and watched him out the corner of her eye. "I admire the hope and confidence that you always seem to have in me. I don't really know where I'd be without it…" she drifted and then finally turned to look at him with her usual blank but warm face. "Thank you, Robin."
"My pleasure," he whispered with a minute smile. "I'm going to get you out of here and back home as soon as possible. And no matter what the truth is when we get back, I'm going to stick by your side."
Raven nodded quietly and struggled to stand up in her place. "Sounds like a plan. Now can I sleep?"
Robin chuckled at her nonchalant ways and said, "Sure."
-O-
"You can look now," Raven's dry voice uttered moments later. Robin had been covering his eyes like a good boy while she changed out of her wet robe and bare skin into a dry, black, satin robe, camisole, and shorts set. She pulled her damp, black hair into a ponytail and crawled on top of her navy blue bed.
Robin opened his eyes to see her lying there with her shoulders tense and her own eyes closed in thought. Nothing was showing, but he didn't think he'd ever seen her so nude. She had gotten completely undressed in front of him even with her clothes still on. He couldn't believe she was lying there with her thoughts and emotions totally exposed and visible for him to see. Even more shocking, she wanted him to stay there with her.
"I'll just sleep in this arm chair," he finally spoke up, causing her to open her sleepy eyes.
"Actually," she blushed and blinked down at the black, fringy blankets covering her feet, "do you mind sleeping up here with me? Nothing erotic…I just want to feel safe…"
Robin blinked and shook his head side to side to make sure he wasn't hearing things. "Wait what?"
"Never mind," she rushed and pulled the covers over her shoulder as she turned on her side, "that was taking it too far. I shouldn't have asked."
"No, no," he said with haste, "I don't mind. I'll do all it takes to make you feel safe."
This time Raven was speechless. She didn't know if she should thank him or not. She was still pretty shocked that he agreed. After his break up with Star, he had given them all this long lecture about not mixing business with pleasure. He said they all should be teammates and friends, but nothing more because it interfered too much with their job and responsibilities as superheroes. They all assumed he was just being a pissy brat because the beautiful girl had dumped him, but he had never taken it back.
Still in her anxious, fearful mode, Raven jumped when his body caused the bed to sink in and his thin t-shirt covered chest was suddenly pressed against the curve of her back. Before she could retort, his arm had slowly made his way around her small waist. Her eyes grew wide. All she asked was that he sleep in the bed with her. Not once did she say he had to hold her.
"I-is this o-okay?" he whispered gently into her luscious hair. All she could do was nod in content and close her weary eyes.
But instead of falling into a deep sleep, she fell into a flashback.
Raven didn't know what had just occured. All she remembered was fighting and tussling with Slade. Now, she was midair next to a skyscraper, plummeting to her premature death. Suddenly, a swinging figure on a rope swooped her up in his strong arms and landed softly on the ground with her still in his hold.
She gradually opened her eyes only to be faced with a smiling Robin. She knew right then; he was more than her knight in shining armor. She had given up on her life, but he always gave his all to save it. "Let's go home," he breathed over her and swooped her drained body up once more.
As he took that long stroll to the tower with her weighty, solid body in his arms, he never complained, sighed, or struggled to keep her up. When they finally made it to her room, he gently placed her in the center of her round bed and tucked her under the thick, heavy covers. At that point, it had been thirty minutes since they'd been silent, but yet Raven had heard so much. She heard just how much he cared about her wellbeing and just how much he needed her in his life. She could hear the strength of the bond between them and how no one else could understand the other quite like they could. She heard how much they actually enjoyed each other's quiet presence and how much they had longed to get to know one another better. She heard just how much they not only connected on a mental level, but also on a deeper, darker emotional level. Even more so than emotional was physical. When he picked her up and held her near to his heart, the feeling she experienced could not be explained. The sensation his touch gave her was so unattainable, she didn't think there was a feeling in the world that could surpass it except the feelings she had for him.
It was then she realized that they truly were best friends. Ever since that day she'd gone inside his mind, he claimed it since she from then on knew everything about him. Yet he didn't know a thing about her. How could someone who knew nothing about you be your best friend? However, now she was beginning to understand. Now, she felt exactly what he felt. Even without knowing someone's past or future, you can feel how much you connect with them. You can feel when your souls unite and meld as one. It was an immaculate feeling. And in the end, she was just thankful she had ventured inside Robin's mind and not Beast Boy's.
"Robin," she grabbed his wrist before he could walk away, "you don't have to leave just yet…"
The boy was quiet for a minute, probably contemplating whether or not staying was a good idea. Then, finally, he expressed, "I'll stay as long as you want, Raven. I promise."
Raven was suddenly pulled back into reality by the tightening of his arm around her body. That night he'd fallen asleep in her room. But instead of sleeping in the bed, he made his own pallet on the floor. She never would've imagined that just a year later he would be spending the night with her again but this time in the bed right along with her.
"Do you have any plans for tomorrow? Other than working on solving this whole ordeal?" she asked as she remembered the performance she'd promised Jinx she'd do.
"Um, not that I know of," he uttered. "What's up?"
Raven took a deep breath of courage and said, "I have a performance at the café tomorrow that Jinx insists I do. I was wondering if you would like to come."
"Of course," he said almost instantly. "I didn't know you had any talents. What kind of performance?
Raven only smirked to herself as she placed her hand over his. "It's a surprise, Boy Blunder. You'll just have to wait and see."
-O-
A/N: I'm kind of in a hurry, so I don't have time to talk a lot tonight lol But thanks for reading xoxo :)
: First off, love the name change lol. Yeah, Clark was the only name I could think of at the time lol and I figured he doesn't always have to play a big role in stuff related to them. Also, yeah I don't plan on "showing" every death, because too much gore can be depressing and boring haha. Guess you'll just have to see who's going down next and what Red X is up to :) Thanks for the review!
runner: Yeah, that's one thing I keep bothering myself about. Why aren't they trying to figure out how they got there lol? I just like to think that too much is going on right now and they don't exactly know where to start. Anyway, thanks for the review :)