Thank you again to all of those who have been reading and enjoying this story, and thank you for your feedback. Here is the next chapter, so I hope you all enjoy.
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Chapter 8: Love Is Blindness
The dance was definitely over. The crowd of people who had been enjoying themselves on the dance floor were now rushing out the door, as Bumblebee was escorting them out.
"Yes! Run! Run and hide! It will do you no good! For hear me, petty fools, your world is doomed!" cackled Leon. He then looked down and took notice of the Titans.
"Well, Titans! We meet again," he sneered. "I hope you have had time to consider my generous offer."
"Yeah, we considered it," said Robin. "No deal, Leon."
He merely laughed. "Are you so sure? Think about it Titans. I could share with you the secrets of the universe. The power hidden throughout the millennia could be given to you if you simply submit towards my will. I have elevated myself beyond the limits of the rest of these mortal fools! I could share my secrets with you. I could share my power with you. Are you really willing to throw away a chance like this?"
Robin merely narrowed his eyes in contempt. "You are the fool! We'd never submit to your rule. You have no power over us, Leon, and we will defeat you! No deal!"
Leon sighed. "Oh, Titans. Today is not your day. For today, you have made your last mistake!" And the sorcerer's eyes started to glow red, and a red aura started to surround him.
"I WILL TEAR YOUR WORLD APART PIECE BY PIECE!!!"
"Ok, Titans. This time let's stick together, and everyone be careful," Robin said. "Titans, GO!"
Starfire and Raven took to the skies to bring Leon back down to Earth. Raven began to chant as she focused her powers towards the sorcerer.
"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos!" and as before, a pair of dark magic hands encased Leon, holding him tight. But the sorcerer merely laughed.
"Please, my dear, I believe you've already tried this before," said Leon smugly.
"But now she is trying THIS!" shouted Starfire, as Leon broke free just in time to get blasted by Starfire's eyebeam.
"AAH!" yelled the sorcerer as he flew into a crumbling wall of the building.
"Good shot, Star," Robin said. "Beast Boy, Cyborg, let's get in there!" shouted their leader as the they rushed into the fray.
Beast Boy transformed into a gorilla and the three male Titans surrounded the sorcerer. As soon as he came out of the rubble, he was met with a massive hit from a charging Beast Boy, which sent him sprawling right into Robin, who met the sorcerer with a few well placed kicks of his own.
And then the sorcerer flew to the other wall from a massive shot from Cyborg's sonic cannon. It seemed as though the Titans had finally figured out a good way to attack Leon, as they regrouped on the other side of the dance hall. "Good job, team," called Robin. "But I don't think he's done yet!"
"Not bad, Titans…" Leon said as he emerged from the rubble of the other wall. "Clearly, I have underestimated you. I guarantee I will do that no LONGER!" he yelled as he sent a massive energy wave towards the team.
The Titans were lucky enough to dodge the onslaught, which blew a hole through the wall, and likely would have through them as well.
"Oh man," said Beast Boy. "How can this guy get any tougher? Now what are we gonna do?"
"We'll just have to keep fighting," said Robin. "Let's go, guys! Titans…"
But Robin's battle cry was cut short, as the sorcerer teleported behind him and knocked him down with a hit to his back. "Now you fools will see my awesome power!" he screamed as he turned and blasted Robin into a pillar that was supporting the crumbling roof.
"Robin!" yelled Starfire, who became enraged and began to send a volley of starbolts straight at Leon.
However, the sorcerer merely extended his hand, and he was able to stop all of the starbolts in midair. Slowly, they started to turn from green to red. "Why don't you try a bit of your own medicine?" laughed Leon, as he sent the supercharged shots back at her, exploding in her face and knocking her to the ground.
"Oh, you are going to pay for that!" yelled Cyborg, as he and Raven both sent blasts of energy his way. However, the sorcerer was able to teleport safely away, and sent a blast of fire at Cyborg, sending him crashing into a wall.
"Now for you, sorceress!" yelled Leon as he began charging up his power for a massive shot. Raven frantically began chanting a counter as he let loose the attack.
"Azerath, Metrion, Zin-"
However, before she could finish the counter, she was pushed out of the way of the blast by another, and both of them fell on the ground as yet another massive hole in one of the walls was blown out.
"Ugh," she said in surprise. "Beast Boy? What the hell did you do that for?"
Beast Boy looked at her. "Well, you were just standing there. I panicked! Besides, I just saved your life! You could be more grateful! Is that really how you THANK people for doing you a favor?"
She just glared at him. "I had it under control. I was going to counter his blast, and SEND IT BACK AT HIM! But then you got in my way!"
"Ha ha!" laughed Leon. "Well isn't this adorable? Shapeshifter, you continue to amuse me with your stupid antics. Now DIE!" as he threw a fireball towards the two of them. Both were able to jump just at the right time to dodge Leon's attack.
Unfortunately for Beast Boy, the sorcerer then teleported right behind him as he landed. "Huh?" said Beast Boy as he was grabbed from behind and hoisted up into the air.
The sorcerer started to fly up into the air, and Beast Boy started to freak out. "Hey, dude! Let me go! I don't wanna FLY!!!"
"Beast Boy!" yelled Raven.
But then Beast Boy got an idea, and transformed into an elephant. The sorcerer couldn't react quickly enough and soon both fell back down to earth with a powerful crash.
"Good thinking, BB," said Cyborg. However, the team started to hear a loud rumbling noise. The effect of an elephant falling and crashing to the ground did not help the dance hall in the slightest. What was left standing of the building started to collapse right on top of the Titans.
"YAAAAHHH!!!"
Afterwards, once the Titans had crawled out of the wreckage, they couldn't find Leon anywhere. "Did we really defeat him?" asked Beast Boy.
"I doubt it," said Robin.
"No thanks to you, Beast Boy," jeered Raven. "Way to bring the house down."
"Hey!" he exclaimed. "I didn't attack the place!"
"Well, it sure looks like you did!" she quipped back.
"Friends, please! Let us not argue!" begged Starfire.
"She's right guys," said Robin. "Let's just go back to the tower and drop it, ok?"
But they couldn't drop it. On the way home neither one said a thing to each other, but continued to drop hints at the other Titans.
"Hey Starfire," said Beast Boy. "Could you tell Ms. Ungrateful over there that she should thank people for saving her life every once in a while?"
"Beast Boy," said Robin, "Knock it off."
"Star," said Raven. "Could you tell Mr. Brainless over there that he should think before deciding to turn into a five ton animal and leveling a building while we're inside it?"
"Raven," said Robin, "You too."
Once they got home, things didn't get any better. The rest of the Titans tried to just hang out in the kitchen, and leave Beast Boy and Raven alone in the common room. But they still could hear their teammates yelling. They tried their best to ignore it, but it was hard to not watch the car wreck that was happening in the other room.
"I just don't understand it, Raven. I tried to save your life, and then I have to save my own, and all I can get is grief from you. Why is that?"
"Why? WHY? Because you don't think, that's why! I had that situation under my control. I was going to reflect that blast right back at Leon, and that could have ended the battle, and then YOU wouldn't have had to create a seismic wave that toppled the damn building! But no, I have to be Beast Boy and so I have to be stupid and throw myself into my friend because she can't handle herself, and then I have to turn into the largest animal I can think of and crash into the ground and bring the whole PLACE down with me!"
"But what if your plan didn't work, Raven?"
"It would have, Beast Boy."
"But what if it didn't?"
"Oh, so now you think that I'm too weak, huh? Is that it Beast Boy?"
"No, that's not it at all!"
"Then why do you have to go and be so chivalrous all the time then, huh? Defending poor, weak little Raven. I don't see you sticking your neck out for Cyborg or Robin like that, so why me, huh? Why me, Beast Boy?"
"…Because I worry about you," Beast Boy meekly replied.
"You're worried about me? Well, I got news for you Beast Boy. I can take care of myself! In case you haven't noticed, I'm a superhero, too. Remember, powers? I don't need people to worry about me. So what reason could you possibly have to be that worried about me that you always have to be around me and always trying to defend me?!?!"
"Maybe because I love you, huh? Did that ever occur to you?" shouted Beast Boy. Everyone's eyes suddenly grew wide in shock, Beast Boy's included. Cyborg had dropped his collector's glass that he was getting a drink out of, and it shattered on the floor, but no one paid any heed to that. For suddenly all heads turned towards Beast Boy, who had somehow gone from his usual shade of green to an unbelievable shade of red.
Beast Boy was as equally surprised at himself for saying that. Well...at least I said it...
"You…love me?" Raven said questioningly, who was also blushing heavily as well. Beast Boy was still riled up from the argument, and did not take that comment quite so well. His color faded, and anger and annoyance replaced his shock as he finally found his voice again.
"Yes," he said. "I love you, Rae. Little, annoying, green Beast Boy loves you, ok? Fat lot of good that does, cause you clearly can't possibly feel the same way! Every time I try to do something for you, it blows up in my face or you just chew me out anyway! I can't do ANYTHING right for you, Raven! And why is that? Why do you treat my like shit when all I try to do is make you happy?!?! Huh, Raven? Why is that?"
He then took a few paces towards her. "You know, all I do is try! Everyone else treats me well, but it's still you that I continue to put forth that extra effort for, and I can't understand why! You never treat me like a friend! You clearly can't stand to be around me! But then why do you continue to be around me then? Why, Raven? Why do you continue to mock and cut down someone that you always spend time around?!?!?!"
"You idiot," she said, now equally pissed off. "Maybe because I love you, too!" Everyone's eyes got even wider. The collective jaws of Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg all fell to the floor. Beast Boy was taken aback, and his knees shook so violently he could have sworn there was an earthquake. But Raven was upset, and tears started to form in her eyes. The three in the kitchen began to start hearing the sound of things in their cupboards shattering.
"But I can't love you, Beast Boy! I just can't! Emotions for me aren't the same as emotions for the rest of you! You'll feel bad because of your emotions. Mine could kill people! I can't be allowed to feel that, Beast Boy! I can't!"
Beast Boy was in total shock, and now in disappointment. The girl he had just told that he loved said that she loved him back, but that she won't do anything about it. Because I'm not good enough...
"You can't, or you won't?" he asked. "When you were with Malchior, you seemed to be pretty happy and no one died, so why not me, huh?!?!"
"How dare you!" she snarled. "How can you possibly bring that up! That was not the same as this is! And you know what, for the record, I don't think you'd really ever want to be with me anyway! I'm sorry that I can't be happy for you Beast Boy, that I can't be like your little team-traitor Terra and just fall into your arms!"
Beast Boy stiffened up. "You do not get to talk about her like that. She wasn't like that, Raven, and you know it!"
"Whatever, Beast Boy," said Raven, sadly. "Whatever. What could you possibly see in me anyway?" And then she turned and teleported into her room. And she cried. Every light bulb that she came in contact with shattered, but she didn't care.
I hate my stupid powers!
I hate my stupid emotions!
I hate myself! Why does it have to be this way?
Back in the common room, Beast Boy merely stood there, unable to move. The other Titans were scared to move as well, but Starfire was silently crying. Robin noticed this and held her close. Cyborg was the first to leave the "safe" confines of the kitchen, where every plate, bowl, and glass had shattered. He put his hand on Beast Boy's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, BB," Cyborg said softly. "Come on, let's get you back to your room."
Beast Boy silently nodded, and slowly the two walked out of the common room.
Robin and Starfire began to silently pick up the pieces of the broken plates and glass. After they were done, they just sat on the couch in silence for a while. Neither one knew what to say, as they were both concerned with Beast Boy and Raven's problems, but they still had not figured out how to resolve their own.
"I should probably go have the girl talk with Raven," Starfire said after a while.
"Yeah," agreed Robin. "I think I'll go talk to Beast Boy, too." They both left in silence to go their opposite paths.
"Raven…" Starfire called, while knocking on her door. "Please Raven, let us talk about this…"
"Go away, Starfire," she heard muffled through the door.
"Please friend Raven. Friends are there to help other friends out. I would wish to help you out, now."
Starfire waited a minute, then saw Raven open the door.
"Oh Raven!" she said. Raven's eyes were red, and she had been crying. Starfire quickly entered Raven's room.
Starfire sat in a chair in her room, while Raven sat on her bed, her back to Starfire. They sat this way for a while, before Starfire finally spoke.
"I am sorry that you are hurting, Raven. I am sure that Beast Boy did not want to hurt you."
Raven didn't move.
"But I think that he was also right. Deceived though you were by Malchior, you were able to be happy without causing massive destruction or death."
Raven nodded, her head still down.
"So why did you say those things to Beast Boy?"
Raven wanted to explode. She wanted to yell. She wanted to tell Starfire to leave, that nothing was wrong, that she didn't love Beast Boy. She wanted to go deep within her head, brainwash herself into believing that this was all just a dream, and that she'd wake up and everything would be as it always was.
Instead, she turned to face her friend.
"I'm scared…Star…"
Starfire went to sit by her friend.
"I'm scared. Malchior…he hurt me in ways I didn't think were possible," as she started to tear up. "What if it happens again, Star? What if I hurt him? I don't know if I could bear it…"
"I understand, Raven," said Starfire. "But I think that Beast Boy is not Malchior. I do not believe he would want to hurt you. I believe he said he loves you. And there is nothing better then that," she said as she placed her arm around her friend.
"It can be hard, and you may still hurt. But it can be worth it Raven. Do not be afraid of it."
Raven nodded.
And the two sat there in silence for a while, amidst the torn curtains in her room.
"Hey Beast Boy," said Robin, as he knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"
Beast Boy opened the door. "Yeah," he simply said, then walked back to his bed and sat down. Robin walked in and leaned against the wall. He knew that he had to say something to Beast Boy. He just wasn't sure what. The silence had become almost deafening when someone finally made a noise.
"Any news on Leon?" Beast Boy asked. Robin was surprised, given what had happened out there, that this is the question he would have raised. He sensed that Beast Boy was trying to avoid the subject.
"A little, I guess. I might have an idea as to how he plans to get rid of Earth," he began, as he went through in his head how he was concocting the perfect plan, but then he stopped. "…but I have to work more on it," he finished. He couldn't get caught up in his own stuff now.
Beast Boy nodded silently.
The two then sat in awkward silence again for a while until Beast Boy finally spoke up again.
"I blew it, didn't I?" he asked.
"No, I don't think so," said Robin. "I think you're both just shocked right now. Granted, that probably wasn't the best way to go about sharing your feelings with each other…"
"Thanks, Robin."
"But, at least you had the balls to do it," and Beast Boy looked up at him. "I can't even go and tell Starfire how I really feel cause I'm too scared."
"Dude, how do you think I feel right now?" said Beast Boy. "I'm terrified! I was completely open and honest, and now Raven could just throw that all away! She even said that she loved me, but she's too scared! She was there for that moment, but then she's gone yet again. She hid herself from me. What am I going to do?"
"Well, maybe you could try to do something really nice for her. Ease her out of her shell. Maybe something that isn't so shocking as what happened tonight, huh?"
Beast Boy scoffed. "Yeah…" But then he began to think of an idea, the perfect idea. "Yeah…Hey, Robin?"
"Yeah, Beast Boy?"
"Remember how you said you owe me one?" he asked.
"Um, yeah," said Robin. "What about it?"
Beast Boy then proceeded to tell Robin his idea and his request.
"Wow, that's actually a really good idea, Beast Boy. Ok, I'll get Star and Cyborg out of the tower with me."
"Thanks, Robin."
"Do you think it will work?" he asked Beast Boy. Beast Boy looked down at the ground as he thought.
"I don't know," he said. "But I hope so."
Robin nodded and then turned to leave. "I just wonder what we'll do."
Beast Boy smiled. "Well, maybe you could tell Star how you really feel, for once."
Robin grinned as he shook his head. "Yeah, maybe…"
