10/1/18:

Well, here I am again, about to start on a new chapter.

Dear INSIF: They're all in the plan! Tbh I'm pretty stoked about future chapters bc there's gonna be... BETRAYAL...and LIES...and SECRETS... LOL actually I shelved some Slade/Rae moments after some consideration bc I decided to let her bond a bit with her baby team first, and also to prepare for what was going to happen in this chapter! Once again thank you for your ever loyal reviews, it's more than enough to keep me typing. I'm starting to get a hang of this commitment already actually! Let's hope I never leave this fic hanging for more than a month. :_)

Dear CartoonAnimeWriter: AWW thank you so much for your kind words! Do stay tuned for future chapters, as slow as they may come! (Hope I don't disappoint..~)

16/1/18:

Welp, school has started. Y'all best check back one month after this publishes, aight? LOL

22/1/18:

Dear God the progress is frighteningly SLOWWWW.


"You wouldn't believe what happened over the fourth of July weekend." Wally West stretched himself on the deck chair of the Titans Tower swimming pool. "Some loco called Mad Mod decided to brainwash America into thinking the revolution was a hoax! And he nearly succeeded!"

Rachel Roth slid into the deck chair next to him. "Really?" She was nicely suited up with a black bikini, one which was capable of distracting Kid Flash as he peered from the corner of his shades.

"Also," she added, "Please remember to thank Robin for allowing me into the Tower. I know it's a private space and all -"

"No problem, Rae." Another stretch. "Besides, you're only allowed in the pool area. And the rooftop. No other places. Don't worry about it."

She shot him a grateful look. For the first time in a long week, they managed to have some time to themselves, instead of one running off to save the city (or world) and the other applying for colleges and working overtime as an intern in Wilson Enterprises.

"I'm just really glad we're both free for once." She leaned back on hers, relaxing.

"Tell me about it. I didn't get much sleep last night thanks to this loser who calls himself Adonis." Wally rolled his eyes as he removed his shades, turning to his girlfriend. "Seriously, some guys have egos so big it'd be a renewable ener-"

The doors of the Titans pool opened with a huge slam as a green-skinned being entered, startling the couple.

"Sup, Walls. And hey Rach. Lookin' hot." He winked at her as he pointed a finger gun at her, before entering the pool with a huge splash.

Wally raised a concerned brow. "Say what?"

"I was about to say the same thing." Raven replied, in a lower tone. "Is he like this all the time?"

"No! He's usually not this confident and flirty, I swear - "

Beast Boy resurfaced, spitting the water out of his mouth like a fountain statue. "Y'know, Wally, I really envy you. You get a free pass to check your own girl out while others have to do it in secret." He swam to the edge of the pool near the couple and rested his elbows on the side. "Are you really fourteen?" He stared up at her, not making it a secret that he was looking intently at her chest. Wally was beginning to show signs of irritation at Beast Boy's uncomfortable remarks.

Raven didn't know what to say. She was never hit on before, much less in this manner. "I - uh, yeah. I am." She managed a polite smile. She could sense a tension brewing between the two - one of irritation, and the other of masculine aggressiveness.

"Well, if you ever get bored of fleetfeet over there, you can always call me." He got out of the pool from the side, before gently rubbing her chin as he went past.

Oh no. Wally's mad.

"Did you just do that right in front of me?" exclaimed Wally. "Dude what's up with you?"

"What, threatened by some competition?" Beast Boy whipped around, in an aggressive stance. "Of course you should be."

Wally was infuriated, but he couldn't risk the spat getting even uglier in front of Rachel. "No, I'm not. Leave us alone, Garfield."

Beast Boy stuck his chin out slowly, as if challenging his team mate. "Make me." Gotta impress this hot babe right here by being a man, B. Do it.

Wally was at a loss for words. "Look, you don't just saunter in, hit on my girlfriend and then act like you didn't do anything wrong. You're acting like jerk, B."

"So?" Beast Boy tilted his head to one side. "Girls like her love guys like me. You just don't want my presence here to risk her falling for me, huh?"

"Ex...cuse me?" Raven piped up. "I'm sorry if you had the wrong impression, Beast Boy, but Wally and I -"

"-have been together for four years and counting." Wally finished it for her, putting an arm around her as if to make a point. "Go be a jerk somewhere else."

"Tt." Beast Boy tutted as he shot Raven one last look, with a smirk creeping up his face. "How 'bout I go jerk off -"

He didn't get to finish his sentence, because Wally had slammed him into the wall in a flash.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Wally yelled in anger as the two boys wrestled for control. Beast Boy was now worked up as well, managing to shove Wally off him.

"You got a problem with what I do?!" Beast Boy growled back. Raven was at an absolute loss for words - what on earth was up with Beast Boy? She didn't recall him having such characteristics and mannerisms. Whatever happened to the goofball of the team?

"Both of you! STOP NOW!" Robin yelled as he, Cyborg and Starfire ran into the pool dome.

"What's gotten into you man?" Cyborg demanded.

"You are behaving like a royal zarbnarf!" Starfire added, angrily.

Seems like Wally's not the only one who had an unpleasant experience today.

Beast Boy stalked towards Robin. "Look. This is who I am now. You guys don't like it? Tough!"

"Fine! If this is how you want to act, do it somewhere else! None of us are interested!" Robin snapped back. The rest of the team threw a dirty look at the changeling, signaling their their agreement with the Boy Wonder.

With a face burning with spite, Beast Boy made a move as if to strike the leader, to which Robin flinched at.

"Huh. I thought so." He made his exit as the rest of the members looked on, slightly confounded but mostly frustrated.

Robin cast an apologetic look to Raven. "Rachel, I'm sorry you've to witness the team in this state. We owe you better hospitality next time."

"It's okay, Robin. Being able to set foot here is quite something already. Besides, every household has their issues." She gave him a reassuring smile. Lord, he is quite the package. Why isn't he his own Batman already?

She turned back to Wally, whose arm slipped to her waist again.

"Let's go for a swim."


"What do you mean, Starfire's missing!" Wally zoomed off as he changed into his usual yellow suit after a fast shower followed by sending Rachel home. From the town center he ran off in different streets as he swept through vicinity after vicinity.

"We have two Titans missing and no explanation. We need answers, so split up!" Robin's voice sounded through the communicators of Cyborg and Kid Flash. Cyborg revved up his T-Car as he went past an abandoned area of the city, before making a sharp turn into an alley.

"On it, chief." Streaks of yellow and red followed the speedster as he combed through the East wing of the city, which came to an abrupt stop as he ran up the roof of a tall building. He had spotted a fence which was partially broken through and viciously scratched. "I found something! Something.. "

"With claws." A different voice sounded over the speaker as the Titans each stared into their own blinking device in surprise.

"Hello, Kid Flash. It's nice to see you again." Midnight flashed him a smile as he stared at her in mute surprise.

"How are you here?!" Kid Flash was dumbfounded. "I just got here!"

"Less asking and more searching, Kid." Midnight lifted herself off the building before heading down with a dive towards the fence. "Your friends are in trouble!"

"Steering to your coordinates, KF." Cyborg's voice crackled on the speaker. "Also, is it the assassin chick again?"

Wally West sighed as he ran after her. "Yes, Cy. Yes." He was beginning to take some form of interest in her, much like Robin. Why would she drop by on troubling times just when the Titans needed a hand, as if she knew what had happened? He knew she was powerful, but he didn't think she'd be close to all-knowing. Almost... goddess-like. She was an intriguing figure. Didn't quite help that she had the looks to bowl anyone over too.

"So what happened?" She zoomed over the sewer waters with Robin and Cyborg as Wally zipped ahead. The three of them eventually stalled at a junction, not knowing which tunnel to go through first. A howl was heard and echoed throughout the system, lending no clue as to where it came from.

"OVER HERE!" Wally sprinted past them from one tunnel to another. The team and assassin followed, with Cyborg facing Raven as they ran along.

"That's what we're about to find out!"


Late night.

"Friend Beast Boy, I wish to thank you for saving me from Adonis. Had I known why your behavior was -" Starfire was cut off with a sad sigh from Beast Boy as the two hung out at the edge of the island.

"It's okay, Star. I was such a jerk. I can't believe I even ate meat..." Beast Boy groaned, face in his palms as he reflected. "That thing that I became... it came from within me. And it's still there. I can feel it."

"If it was not for that beast, I might not be here right now. Having that thing inside does not make you an animal. Knowing when to let it out is what makes you a man." She beamed at him with her trademark cheeriness, before enveloping him in a crushing hug that made him fear for the future of his ribs.

Rooftop.

"So... why? I know Robin always asks this, but now I'm curious too." Kid Flash continued playing volleyball with himself as an amused Midnight watched on.

The ball hung in midair, as Raven willed it. The running stopped as well, with an amused speedster looking back at the assassin.

"Very funny. Now give it back." He put his hands on his hip, pretending to be indignant.

"Ever did something just because you wanted to?" She looked at him, hand raised. She threw the ball towards him with a flick of her hand, which he caught squarely. But Kid Flash didn't resume playing, and walked towards her instead.

"I don't think so." He shook his head. "At the beginning you were just like any other villain. But now... now it's getting weird. If you're trying to join us -"

"I have no interest in that," she interrupted. "Like I said before, I do things because I want to. Maybe I'm just a really bored schoolgirl. Ever thought of that?" She turned away, preparing to leave.

"So... bored, eh?" Robin and possibly Rachel would probably kill him for doing what he did next, but Wally couldn't stay curious any longer. "How about I take you around town? Just try to keep up." With a grin, he rushed off the island, sending waves of water rippling in his wake.

"You're on." She muttered, before jumping down the roof and swooping just above the water. God, she loved the rush and the wind on her face. It reminded her of her times in Azarath before Azar passed, when she was encouraged to practice her powers about the monastery and temple. It also reminded her of how she started out training with Slade, where he'd make her fly with weights strapped to her thighs to strengthen her body.

To ordinary people, flying was probably the best thing a hero can do. But what they disregarded was that flying, like walking, took up just as much energy as any form of bodily transportation. Even teleportation was exhausting - it required fast and careful rearrangement of one's atoms and cells, transported from one plane to another and put back together with no mistake. The first time Raven attempted it, she was eight years old - and even then Azar had to guided her patiently throughout.

She was terrified of having one arm stuck to a place where it didn't belong, but she made it anyway. That was life for Raven back then, where her mistakes weren't frowned upon, treated with suspicion nor frowned upon. Azar's love was impossible to replicate. Slade was a mentor, a better fatherly figure compared to her actual one, but he had no patience for mistakes. She was fortunate that she was a fast learner, and a gifted one at that - but even then, every training session had a vague sense of fear tied to it.

Before she knew it, she had reached the harbor where Wally waited, with his arms folded and a taunting expression.

"I said 'try to keep up', Midz." Cool, a nickname. Just what Wally does best... "I didn't say 'take your own sweet time'!"

He was kidding, she knew, but she was beginning to feel roused by his challenge.

"Speed's not reeeaaally my thing," she drawled, raising one eyebrow at him with a small intention to seduce. "Strength, on the other hand..." She extended her arm towards him as a dark raven enveloped them, transporting them to a bank robbery which just happened at the same time.

"...is more like it." She dropped a surprised speedster on the road as they arrived at the crime scene.

"Heh." He gave a low chuckle. He does that when he's shy. "You. Are. So. On." In a streak of yellow, he was gone, targeting Gizmo and disassembling his backpack.

As Jinx turned to look at Raven in the eye, awestruck at the appearance of the second best mercenary in the world, her world went dark just as Raven's eyes glowed a raging white.


"Apart from Robin's suspicions, the rest of the team seems keen to have you with them." Slade's metallic voice sounded in the room as she reported the night's bizarre happenings. "Which does give me an idea..."

Raven sighed. "Slade, if this is about Grant -"

He slammed his fists down onto the keyboard, badly damaging it as it buzzed. "Regardless of it being about Grant..." He turned around, his cold eye piercing hers. "... you are an apprentice. I still require your loyalty and obedience."

She said nothing. Part of her knew she owed him too great a deal to turn her back on him. The other part still insisted on preserving the team for her plans. She knew the man who raised and trained her was still hurting over the loss of his firstborn, and the empath in her couldn't shake off the obligation to make him feel better, even if it was just a little. He was, honestly, not that bad as a parent - holding his end of the conversation after trainings about literary figures, books, metahumans, religion, and the list goes on - whose involvement in her life was unquestionably life-changing.

Grant's death had left him hollowed of much emotion apart from bitterness, which he tried to numb by becoming Deathstroke full-time. Many nights he insisted on doing things alone because he was having a particularly bad episode, consumed with rage towards his own life in general, and some of those nights were times Raven dedicated to helping her favorite band of heroes. His conglomerate had been handed over to some associates, which made it slightly awkward for Raven who was an intern in there since she was his legally adopted child (from the very day he had signed papers for her to enroll in school).

Life went on for the world, but not for Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke.

This was a horrible dilemma, one which she found absolutely no ground for compromise. Raven knew she had to save the Titans, but she was presumably Slade's instrument of destruction of the team now as well. The rich irony of it all could nearly make her laugh - she had spent the past years of her life planning for them, and now, she was expected to deliver their downfall. It was almost too much to take, but that was just her on the inside. On the outside, she merely shrugged at her mentor, told him she'd think about it before turning away to make a comforting cup of earl gray to placate herself, and to ponder over her next steps.

Why, oh why, am I the way I am?

But her thoughts were short-lived when she fell over after being struck by a thrown object. Gasping for air as she lifted herself off the floor, she came face to face with a familiar gun, cocked and ready to be fired.

"I really don't know what to make of this, Raven." Slade moved a little closer, as Raven tried to inch backwards. "It's such a pity that our partnership had to end this way."

"What's going on with you?" Raven rasped as she frantically thought of her next move. Really, what's even going on at all?!

"Your refusal to comply with my orders are disturbing, Raven. For a person who has stood by me longer than most people..." He shook his head. "I'm disappointed."

People? PEOPLE?! You literally only have two people who know and accept your bu -

There was no point in trying to reason with him. She had to escape, but his reflexes would be too fast for her to teleport. If only...

"Sir." A voice broke the tension, granting Raven slight reprieve. Slade kept his eye on her, and did not move.

"What is it, Wintergreen?"

"What are you doing to Miss Roth?"

"What I do best, Wintergreen."

"But you cannot! She - "

"-has been an utter betrayal and disappointment!" Slade snarled, interrupting his sentence. Continue to buy time, Wintergreen. Raven's eyes glowed temporarily as Slade was about to fire, causing the ground beneath his him to burst and make him fall back. A gunshot rang in the air while he rebalanced himself. Seizing the opportunity, Raven phased into dark energy as he fired, before running towards her with an angry yell.

"What's happened to you, Slade?!" She yelled as he missed her with a punch. One more dodge. "Why have you become - "

"You are either on my side, or against me." He leaped off the edge of a large drawer, preparing to strike at her.

Having had enough, she summoned his entire body. It froze mid air, leaving his head free to move, breathe and speak.

"You've become so emotional. So illogical." She shook her head as she walked towards him, with her right arm still up. God, lifting his body for a few minutes can really wear one out. "I want to help you sometimes, but you don't let me."

His rage. His rage was so real. But she was determined to snuff it out, even if it'd cost her a lot of energy. As Slade calmed down, with all his emotions sapped from him, Raven let him down gently as Wintergreen stood through the skirmish, preparing to step in for Raven. The aged butler did have a soft spot for her - she had been a pleasure to serve all through the four years she had stepped into the Wilson Manor.

"I want you to leave." Slade spoke, subdued. "Whatever we agreed on four years ago, is off. We're no longer responsible for one another, and while I'm still your legal parent... I will make sure the Titans pay for what they did. With or without you."

The words stung as bad as when she first began to realize and feel the Azarathians feelings towards her. With a heavy heart and a deep sigh, she looked away, preparing to do as he bade.

Utter disappointment? Betrayal? Something was wrong with Slade, but what? Why did he have such a flare up? Whatever happened to the calm, measured man she knew and grew up with? The one she had to call 'Father' in public?

She supposed she had underestimated the extent of grief Grant's death had put him through, as well as everything else. He was estranged from his family, with a missing eye to remind him of it every minute of his life. He was a man who kept everything so hidden and had trouble communicating out his emotions, to the extent which negatively affected his family. The two assassins were indeed, similar in that aspect. Landing on the top of a building far away from the manor, Raven's soul grew more troubled by the minute as she reflected on how sudden she and Slade had severed their ties. It was hardly likely to be a temporary one. She knew him too well to come after her to resolve issues No, Slade Wilson would find something to blame on and focus on that instead.

She feared that this time, the blame would once again fall on the Titans. It would not do. The team was her biggest hope, and she'd fight anyone to the death if they tried to take them apart. Even if it was he who fed, sheltered and trained her.

What was she to do next?

What's the plan?

Plans. That was what her entire life had been about. She had planned to escape Azarath, planned to live on Earth, defend it against her father, to have it all... And for a period of time, it did seem like her plans were finally going to work. But nothing ever went quite as what she expected - meeting Slade, dating and falling for Wallace West, Grant's death etc - all which threw a spanner in the works which she had initially ignored. But everything was catching up on her now, and for the first time in her life apart from the night she discovered her paternal family tree, Raven Roth felt utterly out of control of her own life.

Control? Ha.

Control was something she needed all the time. Control was also something she craved, especially when it came to governing her own life as opposed to being a lackey for her father. It was what that always drove her to do what she did, from the time she landed on the planet to now, as she stood on top of an unknown building, with one foot on the roof's parapet. Control was also her identity, for without it her emotions would consume her. It was everything to her, and she hated how at this moment, nothing was how it should be.

Out alone, Raven realized her dual personalities couldn't be kept up for long. Despite having lived with Slade for four years, the fact that she was fourteen years old still meant that she didn't have much financial freedom. Their accounts were shared, and all she had were a few tenners back in her own apartment, kept in a wallet. She had moved out in just a mere few minutes, teleporting everything back to the humble apartment that had protected her since she set foot on Earth.

No more college. No more civilian life, or rather, not much of it left. It all felt like back when she came to Earth for the first time - lacking resources and being alone. She had no choice but to finally use her own identity to start out again. On Earth she was always either Rachel or Midnight, and never Raven.

But now, Rachel Roth Wilson was dead, and it was time to be Raven.


"Well, she saaaaid she fought big time with Deathstroke. I don't think she's lying. I mean, think about the times she helped us! It's totally because the two of them had issues!" Beast Boy argued. The team was huddled, just like a football team before a match.

"I will agree with Beast Boy. Midnight comes across as a person who is capable of doing so much more good than evil. I believe we should put her mistakes aside and give her a chance." Starfire added. "And she will be most useful in the kicking of butts, yes?"

"Can't argue about that part. Maybe she realized being with Slade was a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes." Kid Flash shrugged.

"Doesn't matter what I say, Robin. You still got a majority against you." Cyborg whispered.

Robin frowned. "Fine. We take her in, but she'll have to prove herself worthy of our trust."

The team zipped back to the Ops Room, where Raven stood, admiring the room.

"You'll have to have a new identity. No but's." Robin said firmly as the rest of the team zipped happily about her, thrilled to receive a new member. "In this tower we protect and give shelter to those who need it, those who are lost, and those who need help. You have to leave your past behind and abide by our ethics. Understood?" He emphasized the part about abiding by their ethics, which was frankly quite understandable.

"Fully, Robin." A weary Midnight smiled at him. She knew he accepted her into the team because he wanted to keep tabs on her and especially Slade, but she didn't care. She could prove her worth in time to come, and what she sorely needed now was a community to belong to. And most importantly, protection from the best mercenary in the world.

"SO, what's your new name gonna be? Twilight?" Beast Boy wiggled his brows and giggled at his own joke while Kid Flash gave an amused smile.

"Yeah, what's it gonna be?" Cyborg pressed.

"Raven. That's my real name, by the way." She turned around as the doors of the Ops Room opened. "Thanks for taking me in during this time. I know it wasn't an easy decision."

"Don't mention it." Wally waved his hand. "So... Raven." He walked along the path with her as she made her way to her room. Meanwhile, in the Ops Room, Beast Boy raised one indignant eyebrow.

"Doesn't he already have a girlfriend?"

Back to our couple.

"Yeah. I don't suppose you can tell me yours but..." Raven began, but was cut off.

"Wally." He replied coolly, as she turned around to face him in shock.

"I know, I know..." He muttered as he opened the door for her. "Robin's going to kill me for saying that but honestly? I'm going to trust my gut and trust you."

She gave a very grateful smile, one which he had never seen her give before. He was a little stunned at the moment, and the two of them stared at each other for a few seconds before realizing it was awkward to stare. They turned their heads away quickly, slightly blushing from the social blemish.


Two months later.

"No, Mr West. I haven't seen Rachel for some time either." Slade poured himself a cup of coffee as his ear and shoulder held the residence phone in between. "I'll let you know when she comes back or if the police calls. Mm, yes, I understand. Alright. You too. Goodbye."

He put the phone back, continuing to prepare his own breakfast.

Rachel was dead to Slade Wilson, but Raven wasn't. She was out there, with the team he despised now, out of a fault of his which he refused to admit. Slade couldn't quite explain what came over him that night, but he kind of regretted it anyway. Part of him knew the right thing to do would be to make amends, but it was never so simple.

Had it been that simple, he wouldn't be making his own damned breakfast either. Wintergreen had left shortly after the fallout, in a huff (which was usual), muttering something about how "emotionally stunted man-children have to grow up someday". Slade knew he'd come back eventually, it was just a matter of when. With two of his constants gone now, the Wilson Manor began to feel a lot colder.

Meanwhile, it had been two months since Rachel Roth Wilson disappeared off the face of the earth, leaving a hung-up speedster in her wake. Her last words to him was a "goodnight" and a "love you" over a phone call two months ago, words which Wally would do anything just to hear her say them again.

He was beginning to lose hope of ever finding her, having combed through the entire planet daily. Why did she leave just like that? How could someone just... disappear?! If anything happens to her... God, no I can't think about that. You'll be fine, Wally. Everything's going to be fine. Rachel will come back.

Slade Wilson resumed his business in the criminal world, solo again. He was still dreaming up schemes everyday to get the Titans, to avenge his son. But whichever way he tried, it didn't work, thanks to their new member lending a real helping hand in their battles. He knew all too well who the new member was, but he pretended as if he didn't care for her. They appeared in the news, the TV, everywhere, and the image was beginning to mock him. She stood among them, heroic and strong, wearing a blue caped hood with a black leotard - an outfit he first saw her in. The audacity was baffling, but Slade learnt to put it aside.

So what if she fell into the Titans? It was still the same name, same team which led to Grant's downfall. The fact that his rogue apprentice had joined the very team he despised with no intention to sabotage them maddened him further.

I will bring the Titans down. With or without you. With or without you in the team.


"It's just so weird how someone can just disappear like that." A heartbroken Wallace West sat on the rooftop in defeat. "It's been five months, but nothing has turned up. Not even a trace of something... like her hair." He choked back a sob as tears streamed down his face. Raven, in her earnest effort to comfort him, placed her hand on his shoulder, rubbing it to soothe him.

Tonight was especially bad for the speedster, as he began to brood over his de facto breakup now that his girlfriend was missing without a trace.

"Sometimes I hate myself. I'm supposed to be loyal, and all that, while she's not here... but sometimes... just sometimes... I wonder if I should just move on and try again with someone new. And sometimes I hate her, for leaving me like this, with no message or goodbye and it's just -"

"I'm sorry." Raven's voice was now reduced to just a whisper, heartbroken at the sight of him tearing up this badly. "I'll always be here for you, Wally. It hurts to see you hurting like this." She was almost on the verge of tears, consumed by his misery. If only he knew who he was looking for was literally right in front of him the whole time...

But he would hate her if she revealed the truth, wouldn't he? Another dilemma confronted Raven now, as she tried to decide on a right time to tell him. The problem was that there wasn't a right timing, much like breaking the news to one's parents about dismal grades.

The rest of the team steered clear of the topic on Rachel, going so far even as to avoid the whole topic of romance altogether. She loved the team - they were some of the funniest, most annoying, yet the kindest people she had ever known.

They were forgiving.

"I know you used to kill people, Rae, but we don't do that here. Try again alright?" Beast Boy restarted the program, as the rest looked on, cheering her on. Robin was eyeing her, wondering if it was a mistake to have taken her in. She would prove him wrong, after managing to foil crimes on her own with no help from the rest. The rest of the team celebrated with her, praising her skill and organization. Even the Boy Wonder was impressed this time.

They were like a family she never had.

"ROBIN'S GOT THE STANKBALL!" Cyborg yelled as he dived behind the couch. "TAKE COVER!"

She had rolled her eyes initially at their silly little games, wondering if they were for real. The silly little game turned out to be pretty fun, after all.

Or how about the time when she helped Cyborg with his T-Car too? Moments spent in the workshop with him were golden - he'd regale her with tales of his life, laughing along with him at his embarrassing life moments. Who knew maintaining a car could be so fun?

They were the most annoying as well.

"I said, I'm reading! LEAVE ME ALONE!" She yelled before slamming her door shut. Sometimes her introvert gene would act up, not wanting to interact with anyone. But those were also the days when everyone in the team wanted or needed her. It was irritating, to say the least, but after the outbursts she'd make it up for it by accompanying Starfire on her shopping trips, and helping Beast Boy score one against Cyborg and Robin in a game of Stankball. Only Wally understood her need to be alone, saying it was something his girlfriend used to insist on as well.

Ah, and there was Wally West. The two of them had gotten together like fire and oil, confiding in each other. It was mostly Wally doing the confiding, but Raven was always there to share in his joy and pains. Within three months, the Titans had officiated her in the team, giving her a permanent room of her own, complete with an embarrassing initiation into the team.

Back to Wally, she was beginning to feel like joining the team had been the best thing she had ever done, except from the romantic dilemma she was currently in.

"I think if she really loved you... she would want you to be happy. Even if that means starting a new relationship." She took the empty can of soda from him, tossing it into a wasteland dimension. It's true. It hurts that you're crying. And I want nothing more for you to be okay again. "Sometimes things happen in the way we don't understand." She looked at the night scenery, waiting for him to calm down as she soothed his emotions.

He was more stable now, managing to speak without choking and his tears have dried. "Is it wrong to fall for someone else when in this state?"

"I don't know who you can possibly fall f -"

She stopped short as lips touched hers. They stayed in the position for some time, with lips locked in a desperate embrace. She hadn't felt his warmth for so long, and allowed herself to indulge in it. Questions could be left for later.

He broke away, a face torn between guilt and surprise. "I- I'm sorry if that -"

You know what, Raven Roth? Forget about 'right timings'.

She lifted off her hood, revealing her head of bright purple, with tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

"Sorry if what, Wally?"


CLIFF. HANGER. WOOO!

Man this took SO LONG to write! I'm so sorry guys school's been busy! But thanks if you're sTILL READING! \m/

Okay so anyway to clarify she joined the Titans and her new alias is finally her own name, complete with the suit she wore in the series! Yay for going back to normal timelines! Okay, almost normal. What's going to happen next? Will Wally hate her? Or will they have hot steamy - no. That won't happen. Wally knows his laws - and Raven is still a minor. LOL! I'm kidding guys, nothing R-rated is going to happen. Or, should I say, sorry to disappoint.

The next chapter will be filled with drama, action and angst so uh... PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP TABS ON THIS STORY OTL

Love,

Nictophilia