*Exist for Me*
"And do not destroy anything." Raven reminded them with a warning tone.
Beast boy looked guilt-ridden, "Oh, C'mon Raven, that whole Dinosaur incident wasn't entirely my fault." He was referring to what had happened the first day when the two of them had visited.
Starfire didn't understand his short explanation, "What do reptiles have to do with being the careful?"
Beast boy shook his head trying to get his teammates out the door, "I'll tell you some other time, Star."
"Don't worry; I'll keep an eye on them." Robin promised. He was the only other responsible titan in the household.
Raven nodded at him before the four titans departed from the house. She turned and pulled the hoods up on Hazel and Ivy's cloaks. Arella had just entered the living room after the titan's departure to explore. It was still early morning, just after the ten after eight and the sun was already low in the sky.
"Raven, you do not have to conceal them." Arella said walking to the door, "It's a matter of time before they're discovered anyways."
Raven didn't reply but left their hoods up despite what her mother said. Once outside of the column building, Raven followed her mother. The stares of the residents burned holes in Raven's back but the stares weren't judgmental. They smiled as the four of them walked through the streets of Azarath. Others had questioning stares at the smaller girls but no one was bold enough to ask; it would have been considered rude.
Hazel held tightly onto Raven's hand, "Where are we going?"
"The library," Arella answered to her future grandchild.
It took about all of twelve minutes for them to reach the library. The library sat behind a water fountain and the building itself was large. Countless steps led into the granite building with two golden gargoyles resting on the bottom steps. The interior was just as grand with many chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Polished wooden tables sat in the center of the large room, with floor to ceiling book cases on all three sides of the room.
The floor was carpeted with a maroon color and the amount of books was overwhelming. Looking upwards, there were at least six levels of the library that was accessible from the double staircase off to the far left and right side. The architecture was constructed beautifully with carved wooden railings lining the edge of the six levels above.
The library wasn't as busy as it usually was. "There they are." Arella gestured towards the two gray cloaked figures. Soon all four of them were seated at a secluded dark wooden table, out of earshot from the few people that did occupy the library.
The black haired woman smiled, "It is a pleasure to meet with you." She whispered, "It has been far too long."
"It was just last year, Shoshen." Raven brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear, "I suppose it is still a long wait."
The brown haired man eyed the two girls curiously but didn't say anything. Arella and Raven engaged in small talk before they brought up the reason why they were present. For once, Hazel sat sill in the foreign environment and played with the blond doll she had brought. Ivy had set her fairy wand on the table as she had brought that thing everywhere they went.
"Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom." Ivy whispered in Raven's ear. Though her whisper was normal volume and her voice slightly raspy.
Raven pushed her chair back but Arella stopped her, "I'll take them."
Arella left to take both girls to find the restroom. Dimok and Shoshen's eyes had widened at Ivy's bold title for Raven. She would have been embarrassed but after having to explain it multiple times, it was just becoming a pain and a habit.
"I was not aware you were with a child before." Dimok noted, he leaned back in his wooden chair.
Shoshen nodded in agreement her blue eyes sparking at the thought, "Why have you not brought them to Azarath before?" She said, "Aren't you well aware ceremonies are held for such a special occasion?"
Raven sighed and repeated the process, hopefully for the last time. It was honestly tiring having to explain the events so frequently. She had revealed the book to her elders and the ring along with it. Arella had returned with Hazel and Ivy at her sides shortly. Dimok outstretched his hand to inspect the ring.
"It was Azar's ring alright." He said. He turned the silver band around in his fingers. "I have only seen two other things similar to this object here. Both capable with the same powers of this ring."
Shoshen's blue eyes drifted to Hazel, "And you've mentioned that they keep fading?"
Raven nodded, "Just look." She removed Hazel's hood revealing medium length purple hair. Almost on cue it happened several times before the girl seemed to stabilize in appearance. A look of recognition shown in the woman's eyes but she didn't speak up.
Arella leaned forward with concern. "Are they not able to return to their proper time period?"
Dimok placed the ring on the table which made a small clink noise, "Not necessarily, but it is temporary. If they haven't returned at the end of eight months then you must return to me, Raven. It is rare for this to occur to a child. Rare but it has happened."
Ivy's forehead wrinkled and she leaned the upper half of her body on the table, "I don't know what you're saying." She was frustrated with the foreign to the language that hadn't been taught to her.
Hazel was underneath the table facing the seat of her chair. "Want to play with my Barbie?" She pleaded with her sister for company.
Arella sat up straighter in her chair, "Are you not able to reverse it with a spell?" The woman was unfamiliar with the advanced magic Raven was capable of performing. It was foreign to Arella as the monks had raised her daughter until Raven was the age of ten.
Shoshen shook her head, "A spell for time traveling is not in existence." She admitted, "But do not be worried, they'll return on their own after the magic is lifted off of the two. You'll have to wait it out."
"In simpler words, it can't be induced?" Raven asked, folding her arms on the cool table.
Dimok shook his head, "I'm afraid not."
Raven ignored them, "And their…fading problem?"
Shoshen bit her bottom lip as if deciding whether or not to share her information. "It is only occurring because someone is a threat to their existence at the moment."
"What do you mean?" Raven pushed, she honestly wasn't following this.
Sighing Shoshen continued, "As you may know, the future is not set in stone and can change at any moment. Someone or something on earth might cause them to disappear."
The words seemed to catch up to Raven. "And it's possible to be prevented?" Arella softly asked.
Shoshen and Dimok both nodded their heads yes, "Quite. As we have discovered with you, anyone can change the direction of their future." Dimok said. "Unfortunately, you can't control anyone else's choices even if their future intertwines with yours."
Shoshen gave him a sideways glance, "If the source that is threatening their existence is removed then they will stabilize. Meaning their future in your life would be more promising." She added.
Raven frowned but she understood it perfectly, she was the only person in charge of how her life took direction. Whatever decision she and Beast boy made would change the outcome of the two girls playing underneath the table. The four adults at the table fell into silence, her questions answered more straight forward than she thought possible.
"We have withheld your banquet yesterday because of your decline." Shoshen said, pushing her chair out and standing.
Raven cocked an eyebrow at her, "Why is there such an event being held?" There was no one to honor or special occasion that she was aware of.
"Simply because you have returned to Azarath," Arella said pushing in her own chair.
Raven pushed her chair back in and turned to her mother, "It isn't necessary to celebrate every time I return."
Raven frowned on the inside before politely thanking and saying goodbye to Shoshen and Dimok. Both of them smiled, causing them to look like they had more wrinkles in their features. The two gray cloak figures receded further into the library to attend to other matters.
"Raven, I have told you before, your people love you and they like to express it." Arella responded, "They haven't been able to do so for sixteen years."
The time had flown by quickly talking with the two of them. But something still troubled her thoughts as she tried to push it to the back of her mind. What was threatening their existence?
Raven shook her head while she moved her girls out from underneath the table, "But it isn't necessary."
"I'm sure your friends would enjoy attending such an event." A smile played on her pink lips, "Give it some thought; Shoshen is still waiting on your word of approval."
"I'm going to stay here for a while." Raven admitted, she hadn't been there in a quite a long time. "They wouldn't know what they would be saying anyways." Raven pointed out. "Language barrier."
The tall woman shook her head, "Would you like me to take Hazel and Ivy?"
Raven nodded her head, "You wouldn't mind?"
"Of course not," Arella took both girls by their hands. "We'll see you in a bit."
The three of them began walking away before Ivy put the brakes on, "But I want to stay with, Mommy."
Arella paused for a second, "I'll take you to do something fun." She coaxed the child.
Raven watched as Ivy hesitated to make her decision. Reluctantly, she held onto Arella's hand and Hazel waved her mother goodbye. That was a first her children had behaved themselves for an extended amount of time. Raven found herself wondering up the right side of the staircase to browse the hundreds…possibly thousands of books. The conversation kept replaying itself in her mind until it exhausted her. They didn't offer a banquet last year, mostly because she continually declined from having one. But there was no significant event whatsoever she could bring to the front of her mind. Not even her visiting her birthplace seemed significant.
She had sat on the carpeted floor with a book in hand but she couldn't concentrate in the least. An hour had passed before she had decided to give up trying to read the book. She replaced the book back in its proper slot on the shelf before she stood to track down Shoshen. It wasn't hard task as the empath spotted the gray cloaked woman near the entrance.
"Shoshen," The woman immediately looked up with her name being called, "I give you my approval to go through with the banquet."
The wrinkly woman, smiled brightly, "I'm glad you accept." She wished Raven a good day before stepping out of the library. She had to squint as it was bright outside and she descended the steps.
It was then she heard obnoxious laughter, "Hahaha, Rob you should have…your face when BB…" The voice fell into a hysterical fit of laughter which was accompanied by others.
English. That could only mean her teammates.
"Boyfriend Robin, your face resembled the tomato!"
Raven watched as her friends walked by a few feet away from her. All four of the oblivious to her presence, she didn't expect them to point her out.
Robin groaned out of what looked like embarrassment, "Raven is going to kill me Beast boy.
"It's between us." Beast boy clutched his stomach, "Just don't tell Raven. What she doesn't know won't hurt."
Raven stepped forward then, keeping pace alongside them, "Don't tell Raven what?"
"Ah!"
Beast boy let out a girlish scream jumping in front of Starfire which caused her to trip over him. The two fell hard to the marble ground with Robin since he had been holding her hand. Cyborg had jumped from being startled and quickly backed away from her.
Cyborg shook his head, "You really need to wear a bell." He only got a glare from Raven but it soon melted away.
"Do you really want to know?" Beast boy asked her picking himself up. He and Robin then took both of Starfire's hands and proceeded to pull her to her feet. "Cause I don't think you do."
"Not really." Raven continued walking next to them after they had recovered. Beast boy intertwined his fingers with Raven's as the five of them walked with no particular destination.
"Where are Hazel and Ivy?" He asked right off the bat.
Raven shrugged, she really didn't know, "Somewhere with my mother. I take it Starfire dragged you guys everywhere?"
"It was most glorious." Starfire said hearing her name, "Beast boy gave us the tour." The tall girl grinned.
"So…do you guys want to attend a banquet tomorrow?" Raven asked, "You don't have to accept, you can refuse."
Robin nodded; the red color had disappeared from his face. "I'm in."
"Y'all know me and BB are for it." Cyborg then added in a whisper, "Is your food…normal?" Implying the Starfire's dishes were…well alien to them.
Raven shrugged, "I can promise you won't be disappointed."
"Please what is this banquet you speak of?" Starfire glanced around at her friends waiting for one of them to break it down for her.
Beast boy swung his hand that was holding, "I just know food is involved."
"It's a formal event Starfire for a ceremony." Robin told his girlfriend, "Perhaps similar to one of your ceremonies in Tamaran."
Raven was silent for a moment. "You'll have to wear formal attire." She added.
"But I did not know that such events would we occurring." Starfire admitted, "So I do not have the formal attire of which you ask."
The other three titans nodded in agreement, "Then the four of you will have to be tailored for formal attire early tomorrow."
"Let's head back." Beast boy suggested, stopping in his tracks out of everyone's way this time.
Robin stopped behind the couple, "Good, my feet are killing me."
Everyone was busy doing their own thing in their guest room as Arella was still out. Bumblebee had called Cyborg on his communicator and he left to talk to her in private. Robin had claimed he was going to take a nap and Starfire reluctantly followed him. She had expressed that she wanted to see the rest of Azarath.
Raven pulled out and sat in the wooden chair that belonged to her old desk. She sat down the leather bound book and silver ring on the desk with a clunk. Beast boy had run to the bed, jumping and landed flat on his stomach. The two sat in silence; Raven was lost in thought and didn't notice that he was staring.
"What?"
Beast boy closed his eyes, "Nothing."
She was going to interrogate him further but he buried his face in a pillow. He and Starfire had probably dragged Cyborg and Robin all over the place. She sat there for a moment before deciding to sit on the bed which was much softer.
"Did they help you at all?" He mumbled through the pillow as he felt the weight of the bed shift a little.
Raven thought for a moment, "Yeah, I suppose so." She debated whether or not to tell him but decided to do so anyways.
"Guess you were right about waiting it out." He said through the pillow. Raven ran her hand through his green hair, "That feels nice."
She closed her eyes for a moment, "Do you want to play a game of chess?"
Beast boy rolled over onto his back and captured her hand with his own, "Sure, I'd like to." He kissed her fingers before sitting up.
Raven quickly got up and searched for the chess set she had put in the bottom of her drawer of her dresser some time ago. Soon she sat across from him and the two of them put their pieces in their respective spots.
"Want to make this game interesting?" Beast boy smirked.
Raven gave a small smile which vanished after a yellow vase cracked. "I'm listening."
"If I win, you have to play two hours of video games." He said confidently, Raven raised an eyebrow at him for this. "If you win, then I won't talk to you about video games again."
Raven stared at him, "Yeah, right. And how many times have you bet that before and failed?"
Beast boy groaned, "Then, I'll buy and serve you tea for two weeks."
Raven released her stare on him, "Alright, you make the first move."
After he made the first move, the empath moved her pawn two spaces forward. The game went on for quite a while, each of them concentrating and taking a long time before making the next move. Raven felt her shoulders tense and it felt like a weight was on them from sitting to long.
"Checkmate." Beast boy announced with a goofy smile after some time.
"What?" Raven scanned the chessboard and sure enough he was right. When had Beast boy gotten so good?
They began to hand each other their proper pieces to reset the game, "I'll let you choose the game if you'd like."
All the pieces weren't even set up before heavy feet came stomping down the hallway. The door was roughly yanked open after a few tries and two girls excitedly ran in.
"Daddy, guess where Nana took us." Ivy said trying to pull herself up on the bed despite the chess game being half set up.
Beast boy put his hand under his chin to pretend he was thinking, "Did she take you to the moon?" He teased her.
Hazel climbed up onto the bed after her sister, "Nope."
"We went to the park."
Raven began putting the chess pieces away, "Did you have fun? Why do you have a band aid on your chin, Hazel?"
"I fell down." She said simply, "Now I get to be a band aid monster."
Ivy decided to elaborate, "We were playing with Yora and she falled down the slide and Hazel was going to help but she falled too."
"Who's Yora?" Beast boy asked as Ivy coughed.
"My new friend," Ivy crawled over to him to sit in his lap. "She's really nice because she gave me candy."
Hazel nodded and began helping Raven put the pieces in the box, "Yeah, she makes me smile all over my face."
"And Nana said that we can play with Yora tomorrow." Ivy cheered thought.
Raven suppressed her smile; she could have healed her in a matter of seconds. Hazel seemed to be preoccupied with the idea of wearing band aids for fun whether they were hurt or not.
"Daddy, do you want to go with us to the park tomorrow?" Hazel asked him with a serious expression on her face.
Beast boy stretched before moving Ivy off his lap and standing, "Okay." He agreed.
Beast boy always liked kids, they were so innocent and funny. It was something Raven had thought of only a few times before. Beast boy picked up the two of his girls, Ivy was slung around his back and he playfully carried Hazel upside down. Soon the room was filled with playful shrieking and laughter as he ran out of the room with them. Raven moved to the door to watch him playfully jostle the two of them before she retreated back to her place at the wooden desk.
