Apprentice Pt. 2
It had been exactly four days since Robin had disappeared and every night since the Titans had looked for him. Starfire would call out to him and Beast Boy would squawk in different bird forms, as if that would bring their leader out from wherever he was. Cyborg and Raven would walk behind the two silently. Cyborg had his thermal sensor and tracking device out. Raven was reaching out with her mind, hoping to somehow touch Robin's or sense his aura. No Titan had much luck. They went home discouraged.
"Guys, it's time to hit the sack. We can't afford to lose sleep and vitality. We have training in the morning and a longer patrol from the afternoon on." Cyborg was telling them.
Cyborg had assumed the role of temporary leader after consulting the decision with Raven. They agreed neither Starfire nor Beast Boy were suitable to lead and though Raven had the intelligence to do so, she didn't feel comfortable giving orders or taking a position that she felt to be singly Robin's. Cyborg was always fear and reasonable, though, and Raven felt that his leadership was more of a partnership because they made most pronouncements together.
"But I am not tired." Starfire protested yawning immediately after.
Beast Boy was falling asleep where he was and even Raven felt fatigue in her body. It was after midnight and they had all been awake before seven that morning. Sleep was necessary.
"Sweet dreams, my friends." Starfire said, leaving the room.
"Nighty night." Beast Boy threw over his shoulder.
"You're not going to bed." Raven observed and Cyborg shook his head.
"There's some paperwork I have to finish for yesterday's bank job."
"I can help you."
"No, you should get some rest, Dark Girl."
"Why do I have to?"
"You have bags under your eyes and you're holding back a yawn."
Raven glared.
"You look the same."
"Yeah, but I'm the leader and that means forging sleep sometimes. Man… I sound like Robin." He made a face and Raven gave a small laugh.
"How horrid."
"Horrendous, actually."
They shared a laugh but then lapsed into silence.
"I miss him." Raven admitted.
"Me too."
"What if Slade's hurting him? What if he's killed him and we arrive just to pick up a body?"
Cyborg noticed loose tendrils of power escaping the sorceress and quickly wrapped her in his large frame, hugging her tightly.
"Shh. Take a deep breath. Robin's not dead. You know that and I know that. He's a survivor and a fighter. Slade will not be his undoing. I promise you we will find him."
"Okay." She whispered and while Cyborg did the paperwork, Raven slept on the living room couch, choosing to be in the company of her trusted friend instead of the suffocating silence of her room.
They had been patrolling for two hours when they received the call from the police chief. A technology depot was missing their latest thermal blaster prototype- a machine capable of blasting a hole through a concrete wall with ease. Cyborg affirmed that the Teen Titans were on their way and the chief was distracted enough to forget there was one important Titan missing.
"Who would steal a single thermal blaster? Why not more?" Raven was asking as they glided over rooftops to reach the depot.
"This blaster is the newest of its kind. There might not be more than one and maybe the thief only needs the one. It's clearly not the Hive." Cyborg responded.
"There!" Starfire pointed and the Titans stopped at the edge of the roof as a shadow moved lithely across the roof.
The murky figure stopped underneath an illuminated billboard, allowing the team to see his face. They gasped and only Raven had the voice to speak.
"Robin?"
"Alright, these are the only possibilities." Beast Boy, pointer in hand, was gesturing to a black board he had filled with pictures and scribbles. "One, he's a zombified ninja. Two, he's from another crazy dimension where the good guys are the bad guys. And three, his body had been snatched by an alien from outer space!"
"Friend Beast Boy, which alien would this be? I know of no aliens who use earthly bodies for their taking." Starfire's brow was furrowed as she actually contemplated the black board.
"Well, uh, the aliens from… Mars?"
"Cut it out, BB, this is no joke. That was Robin that got away. My sensors said so."
Beast Boy sighed.
"I know. It smelled like him."
Cyborg gave him a disgusted look.
"What? I have animal senses and scents are easily distinguishable for most animals. I know what all of you smell like. It's a signature smell for each person."
"I wish I didn't know any of that." Cyborg said with a glower.
Raven remained quiet, staring off into space. The boys were busy bickering, their go to method for dealing with stress of severity. Only Starfire, tilting her head thoughtfully, noticed the empath's behavior.
"Friend Raven?" she called softly and Raven snapped to attention.
"What?"
"Would you like to go up to the roof with me and perhaps do some meditation?"
Starfire had asked Raven to help her achieve inner peace and practice meditation from time to time and the latter had gladly accepted. Starfire was an eager pupil and she picked up on the correct posture, breathing, and mentality needed for mediating easily. She nodded and the girls left the room without the other two even noticing.
Starfire waited a good half hour before turning to her companion and asking her if she missed Robin.
"Of course I do, Starfire, he's our leader and we all need him." Raven had opened her eyes at the question but was not meeting her friends' inquisitive emerald gaze, instead she watched the ocean below.
The waves were turbulent and slammed against the rocky coastline without apology.
"That is not what I meant, friend. And I believe you know what I refer to. Do you not trust me?"
"I trust you, Star."
"Then? Do you miss Robin? Not as our leader but as something else."
"Something else? Like what?"
"Like a close friend… or a lover." The word was said casually but Raven still flinched.
"Do you know what that word means?"
"Yes, a lover is the person you feel the love for, correct?"
"Not exactly. A lover is the person you have sexual intercourse with."
"Oh." Starfire blushed. "I apologize."
"I don't love Robin." Raven said firmly. "I don't do love because I don't do emotions."
"That, friend, is a lie. You do have emotions and I have seen them firsthand. You smile and I have heard you laugh with friend Cyborg. And with Robin… you feel more than you are admitting to yourself. You have a special affinity that we are all aware of. Now Robin is gone and you miss him. Emotionally, you miss him and are upset by his absence. We have seen him, alive but working for our enemy and so you feel confusion and more sadness, do you not?"
"When did you get so perceptive?" Raven grumbled and Starfire laughed, a tinkling airy sound.
"Since our friendship strengthened, Raven. You have taught me many things."
"So you use them against me?"
"It is for your benefit, friend. I wish for you to find happiness. Robin can grant you that happiness."
"But, what about you?"
"Me?" she laughed again. "Friend Raven, I once had the feelings for friend Robin, but now he is just that. A friend. As I told you before, we are much too different to find harmony together. Also, Aqualad and I are… together."
"Really? That's great, Star. I'm happy for you." Raven said genuinely.
"Thank you, friend. And see? Another emotion on your part. Happiness for me."
Raven rolled her eyes.
"Quit it, Sherlock, I gave in a long time ago."
"Who is this Sherlock?"
"Never mind." Raven smiled and watched the ocean again.
"Raven?"
"Hmm?"
"We will get Robin back."
"I know."
"Then why do you remain solemn?"
"Because when we get him back, I fear the rift between us will be too great to overcome. Whatever comes next won't be pleasant and most likely it won't be good."
Starfire digested this and nodded once.
"Dejectedly, I must agree."
The following night, the team had stayed home, but the alarm came anyway and Cyborg gravely read the computer's update.
"It's him again."
"How do you know?" Beast Boy asked.
"Another weapon. Another high tech location."
"We must go then." Starfire stated.
"We don't have time to waste getting the car. Close your eyes and take a deep breath." Raven commanded and the Titans didn't question her.
Seconds later they had teleported to the roof of the Wayne Enterprises building.
"That was intense." Beast Boy said.
"Whatever." Raven glared.
"We made it just in time." Cyborg pointed. "Look."
Robin had just emerged from the building with a black case in one hand.
"Robin!" Cyborg called and he froze.
Robin whirled to face them but didn't respond.
"We just want to talk." Cyborg continued, stepping forward with his hands up.
Robin analyzed him, waited a few seconds, and then flipped forward to kick the cybernetic teen to the ground.
"Guess there's nothing to talk about." Beast Boy snarled, morphing into a powerful gorilla and grabbing Robin in his fists, launching him to the ground hard, where he rolled and stopped near the edge of the roof.
Beast Boy resumed human form and ran to his fallen leader.
"Dude, are you okay?"
Robin suddenly jumped up and delivered a furious combination of punches to the changeling, dropping him at his feet. Starfire took to the air, her hands and eyes aglow.
"Robin, do not make me do this." She warned.
Robin launched exploding projectiles at the Tamaranean and she dodged them all, shooting starbolts back at him. Robin waited until she'd flown close enough to the ground to pull her all the way down, surprising her and using a roundhouse kick to knock her temporarily unconscious.
The crate hit from behind and he hissed in pain, knowing he'd left the most powerful of his teammates for last. Robin turned and saw Raven in a battle stance, watching him with her eyes narrowed. He was sidetracked by the beautiful amethyst gaze and was jolted to reality when Slade's voice attacked his ear.
What are you waiting for? Get me my weapon!
Robin flinched at the feedback from his earpiece and ran towards Raven, executing a high flip over her to climb up the Wayne Enterprises sign.
Apprentice, where is my weapon?
"I had to drop it. The building was too heavily guarded. I'll have to come back another night."
No! You will stay and fight. That is an order.
"Robin."
He looked up to see Raven, floating in front of him, her hood down and her face exposed to him. Her features were contorted in sadness and his eyes widened at the unveiled emotion on her face.
"Please, Robin, I know you're in there. Don't do this. Slade's done something to you, but come back with us and we can solve it together."
"Raven…" he relished the syllables of her name and the girl moved a touch closer to him at the sound.
Apprentice, dispose of the final Titan.
Robin didn't move and Slade's voice lowered to a deadly whisper.
Shoot her down with the thermal blaster or I will do it for you.
Robin knew his threats weren't to be taken lightly and he raised his arm, the thermal blaster coming to life as he aimed it at Raven.
"Fine." She raised an arm, her palm erupting with dark magic and her eyes glowing white as she focused the energy on Robin.
Neither moved and the standoff continued until Raven slowly lowered her arm and sighed, dropping her head.
"I can't do this. I can't fight you, Robin, and I can't do this. If evil is what you truly are, then shoot me." She floated down in front of him so that the thermal blaster was touching her chest.
"Raven." Robin breathed, shocked by her actions.
The sorceress was an unstoppable force with unlimited power and a strength she radiated effortlessly. This wasn't like her.
Robin had lowered the blaster when Slade's voice returned.
You've left me no choice, Robin.
Raven gasped and collapsed into Robin's arms, her skin turning a sickly orange-red shade as the nanoscopic probes took effect in her body. Groans from below them alerted him to Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy's similar condition.
"What's happening?" Raven whispered and Robin stroked her glowing hair once before depositing her on the floor.
"I'm sorry." He said and this time when he aimed the thermal blaster, he did not hesitate.
When the sensation of his body being ripped apart from the inside stopped, Cyborg realized two things. One, Robin had escaped again. Two, Raven's body was close to dropping from the sign where she'd faced off against Robin. She tumbled off and he jumped up, catching her before she could meet the ground.
"Robin's gone." He told her and her eyes opened lethargically.
"He shot me, Cyborg."
"Who did?"
"Robin. He shot me with the thermal blaster. No second thoughts, he just shot." She was trembling in his arms and Cyborg's eyes shut in pain.
His best friend had hurt his little sister and he was torn between wanting to comfort the former and kill the latter.
"Robin's learned some scary new tricks, but how did he makes us go all glow in the dark on Halloween night?" Beast Boy chimed in and Cyborg's eyes flew open.
"That's it!"
"What is it?" Starfire asked.
"That wasn't Robin. It was Slade! He has something over Robin and I'm willing to be it has to do with us." He looked at the girl in his arms. "Robin would never hurt us willingly." He echoed her words, adding his own at the end.
"We need to get back to the tower." She said.
"Are you strong enough to teleport us?"
Her answer came in a wave of darkness that enveloped the team and transported them to the med lab.
"Slade!"
"Back so soon, Apprentice?" the villain grinned.
"You swore you wouldn't hurt them! You swore!"
"And you swore to serve me without question. I gave you orders and you ignored them. That was your punishment. Remember Robin that I am your master and if that means shooting down your little purple-haired girlfriend, so be it." He turned disinterestedly to his screen console and Robin growled.
"I've had enough." He launched himself at Slade but the villain moved to the side and grabbed him firmly by the wrist until he cried out, kicking out to release the iron grip.
The battle was rough on both sides, though Robin suspected Slade was holding back. The Boy Wonder ripped the black uniform off and threw it at Slade's boots, standing defiantly in the body suit he wore underneath the exterior armor.
"Foolish boy, if you do not submit, I will kill all your friends. Starting with Raven."
Robin rushed forward at the threat, but Slade grabbed his fist and pulled him off balance.
"I will always win, Robin. It is your choice to be on the winning side or… the side that dies."
Slade threw him to the floor and approached the probe machine to grab the remote that controlled all active probes. Before he could press any button, the left wall of the underground lair exploded, and depositing rubble in every direction.
"Booyah." Cyborg said matter-of-factly, blowing the smoke off his sonic cannon.
"Guys, get out of here! Slade has-
"We know." Cyborg cut him off.
"And we do not care." Starfire added.
"We're bailing you out of here, dude." Beast Boy said, glaring at Slade.
Raven stepped forward, reaching out to Robin in a stance that almost mirrored her earlier one. Robin had instinctively stretched out his hand to meet hers when Slade reacted, pressing the button to activate the probes. Raven cried out, falling to her knees in pain. The others fell behind her.
"No!" Robin yelled and suddenly he was at the probe machine, touching the surface and transferring probes to his own body.
Slade roared in anger and Robin smiled, managing to stand weakly on his feet through the pain.
"Now your precious apprentice dies too. Your move, bastard."
Slade crushed the remote with one hand and ran from the lair, activating the self-destruct module to destroy any evidence he'd left behind.
The Titans had recovered and Raven hastily teleported back to the Tower as the lair was decimated by a slew of hidden bombs.
Cyborg had found a way to remove all the probes. He'd examined Robin for any injuries and when he found none, he'd hugged his leader and best friend tightly. Beast Boy had followed and Starfire had almost crushed his every bone with her hug. The three Titans had glanced at Raven, who had had her arms wrapped around herself and had promptly left the medical lab. Even Beast Boy had realized the birds needed to have a serious conversation without further questioning. Cyborg was proud of his temporary maturity.
"Any apology I could begin to fathom wouldn't be enough." Robin said from his seat on a medical bed.
Raven hadn't moved any closer, hadn't moved at all from her spot against the front wall with her arms clutched to herself like a lifeline.
"Raven? Rae, please speak to me."
"I don't know what to say to you." Her voice was hoarse, though she had made sure to withhold any tears or sobs.
"At least look at me." He pleaded.
"I can't." she whispered.
Robin stood from the bed and grabbed her arms, adjusting them to fit around his waist instead of hers. His own arms went around her torso, so her face was hidden in his neck and his was in her lavender hair.
"Please don't hate me, Rae." He whispered and this made the tears she'd held onto for so long finally cascade down her face.
He felt the moisture on his neck and allowed his own eyes to shed his guilt and anguish.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
She didn't speak but cried into him, clutching to his waist with all her strength. At some point she collapsed from exhaustion and he laid them down on the medical bed, caressing her hair until sleep took him too.
Raven had been gone when he woke the next morning but he wasn't surprised.
Life took on a false normalcy and for two weeks, the Titans ate meals in the same room, trained every day, and completed missions together, but everyone felt the distance at the very core of the group.
The third week of Robin's return was the mayor's annual ball. Robin had wanted to ignore it, but he knew he couldn't afford to do so. The mayor must have wondered where he'd disappeared to and though his stint with Slade would not be discussed, Robin was obligated to show up and give a convincing lie like an emergency trip to Gotham or something.
The team seemed to be excited but he wasn't completely sure as they hadn't discussed anything in a long time. They got along with small talk and forced conversation, but that night Robin was resolved to fix that, primarily because the icy barrier between he and Raven was killing him.
"Do we have to go this stupid party?" Beast Boy complained, pulling at his bowtie.
"Yes, we do. We made a commitment to the mayor, remember?"
"Not really. I hate these fancy, stuffy parties. They're no fun. I bet there won't even be a DJ!"
"No, at balls there generally isn't a DJ. There's a live band."
"Boring!" the green Titan shouted, walking away hopefully to bother Cyborg, who was already dressed but was updating the Tower's security system once more.
"Friend Robin?"
"Yes, Starfire-wow. You look beautiful."
Starfire beamed and spun once so the hem of her princess style ball gown spun with her. She smoothed the edges down.
"Truly?"
"Yeah, truly."
The dress could have come out of a storybook. It was tight at the top but swelled out from the waist down like most princess dresses. It had some silver design on the strapless bodice and Starfire's red hair was arranged in an elegant bun that had loose hairs gracing her tanned neck.
"Careful or Aqualad will get the wrong idea."
"What do you mean?"
"He might think you're ready for the wedding with that dress."
She laughed and he joined in the infections laughter. They were all dressed up and going out as a team as they usually did. Things could be okay again.
"Robin."
"Yes, Star? Is it about Aqualad? I already told you we'll wait for him. Don't worry the limo won't be here for another fifteen minutes. He has plenty of time to swim up here and miraculously appear in a dry tuxedo."
"No, it is about Raven."
Robin opened his mouth but promptly closed it again.
"What about her?"
"Do not play the dumb with me, Robin. You care for Raven and she cares for you."
"She told you that?"
Starfire glared.
"She did not need to. I am not blind. Though I realize you have feelings for her and do not wish to hurt her, I must notify you that as her best friend, I shall not hesitate to blast you into oblivious with an eyebeam if you hurt her again. She has suffered greatly because of your time with Slade and is still not back to her usual self."
He sighed.
"I know. What do I do? She won't talk to me and she barely stays five minutes in the same room with me."
Starfire tapped a finger to her chin.
"You must use tonight as the opportunity to convince her you will not leave her again or betray her trust."
"I was trying to protect her!"
"Robin, you must understand what it felt like to us. You fought us at Slade's command and did not choose to tell us about what had happened. We were all confused, but Raven was hurt much more so."
"I-I know."
Starfire cocked her head to the side, listening to something his human ears hadn't picked up yet and her lips widened into a grin.
"I shall wait for Boyfriend Aqualad outside."
"Okay?" Robin stared after the alien girl in puzzlement.
When he faced forward again, he felt his jaw drop. Raven had entered the living room through the bedroom corridor and was suddenly in front of him, looking like an exotic goddess adorned in black silk.
The dress was skin tight and went to Raven's calves. Like Starfire's it was strapless and Raven's porcelain skin was displayed wonderfully. She wore silver heels that matched the glittering design around the waist of the dress. Raven's short hair had been slightly curled so it was in loose waves that touched her face, which had been left natural except for smoky eye shadow to bring out her amethyst eyes and lipstick to accentuate the soft plump lips Robin had found himself admiring too often.
"You look stunning, Rae." His lips felt dry and he quickly licked them, trying to remain cool.
"Thank you, Robin. You look nice too."
His suit was designer, an old gift from Bruce, and went perfectly with his subtle musculature and height.
"I know things have been strange between us, but this night should be fun for all of us and I can assure you I'll make it that way for you." He held out his arm and she contemplated him for a couple of seconds before stepping forward and taking it.
The night became a pleasurable blur for the Titans as the danced and drank sips of expensive wine before dancing again and eating from the vast buffet assortment. Raven had danced various times with Cyborg and accepted Beast Boy for two or three songs, but her main partner was Robin.
He was an expert dancer from endless lessons Bruce had forced him to take as a child. After all, Richard Grayson had an image to keep and as Bruce's adopted son, he was often in the limelight and at the elite events with Bruce. Dancing and small talking had been his fortes. Now, though, dancing was exhilarating because he was holding Raven's hand and Raven's waist. He spun her and held her as he wanted until they were both tired.
"One more?"
"I want to sit." Raven said, almost pouting due to the ache from the tight heels on her feet.
"It's a slow one. It won't be so bad and then we can sit the rest of the night away."
"Fine, Boy Wonder, lead the way." She rolled her eyes but resumed the dancing positing comfortably.
Her hand was warm in Robin's and the other lay gently on Robin's shoulder. As the dance began, Raven paid attention to the lyrics, recognizing it from some café she had passed by once.
"I talk to you as to a friend
I hope that's what you've come to be.
It feels as though we've made amends
Like we found a way
Eventually."
Raven considered that. Robin had apologized. She had cried into his arms. Then, the team was functioning as it had before. Still, was everything resolved?
"It was you who picked the pieces up
When I was a broken soul
And then glued me back together
Returned to me
What others stole."
Robin had noticed Raven's attention to the song and had begun examining the lyrics as well. The verse certainly applied to him. Raven brought him back to himself. Slade was so close to dominating him, but Robin's feelings for Raven had kept him grounded and had given him the strength to fight Slade and save all the Titans. Slade had tried to steal his loyalty and steal his identity, but he'd failed.
"I don't want to hurt you,
I don't want to make you sway
Like I know I've done before
I will not do it anymore.
I've always been a dreamer
I hide my head among the clouds.
Now that I'm coming down
Will you be my solid ground?"
"I need some air." Raven breathed, pulling away from him and exiting the ballroom to the garden in the back.
Robin sighed, following her as the song's chorus repeated in the background.
Raven was seated on an ornate bench, twirling a rose she'd taken from a nearby bush in her hands. She didn't look up when Robin approached or when he sat next to her. Neither spoke for a while, but Raven kept twirling the rose. Robin watched her but decided to let her speak first.
"I don't trust you." She blurted and stared firmly at the flower.
Robin was thankful his eyes were hidden behind his ever present mask because he had to forcibly blink away tears at her words.
"I know it wasn't your fault and Slade used us to control you, but I still think you could have found a way to tell us and let us help you. Instead, you shot me with a thermal blaster and ran away from us."
Robin grabbed her hand, halting the rose's motion and making her eyes meet his.
"There were many things I could have done differently and many more I wish I had done instead. But, my priority was keeping you safe and alive. Slade would have killed you before me and I couldn't let that happen."
"I doubted you. I actually thought you'd betrayed us."
Her words were sending pinpricks to his heart.
"I would never betray you, Raven."
"You've done it twice because of Slade. You become fixated on capturing him and you lose all reason. You forget you have teammates or friends. You turn into him."
Robin put his head in his hands and Raven dropped the rose to fully face him. She had wanted to be honest with him, but his pain was not something she enjoyed.
"Robin."
He didn't respond.
"Robin. I care about you. More than I have for anyone else. More than I thought my powers would allow." She looked at her hands. "That's why what you did affected me so deeply and that's why I don't trust you. You can hurt me too easily and that scares me." Raven stood, dusting off her dress. "I'll see you tomorrow. I need to go now." She walked away but teleported halfway, presumably to her room.
Robin briefly removed his mask to wipe away stray tears but it was back before anyone could even think of looking. He still felt pained that Raven didn't trust him, but he knew it was deserved. Still, she had revealed other things he had been hoping for quite some time. Raven did care for him and that meant he had a chance to fix everything.
Robin picked up the rose Raven had dropped and brought it to his nose, inhaling the sweet aroma and remembering the beautiful girl who'd held it minutes before. He put it inside his jacket and stood to enter the ball again and make the adequate farewells. He would be heading back to the Tower as well. There were long days ahead.
END OF SEASON 1
Ok, that was a long one! I am excited for the next season and for the progression of Rob/Rae's relationship. There are still a lot of episodes to go so I can't just have them perfectly in love right now. The best relationships have to be worked at and solidified.
BTW, the song they danced to was Sway by the Perishers. It was in Veronica Mars, another of my favorite shows and it was used for another OTP of mine. Logan/Veronica! The song was just so fitting for the situation so I used it and I hope everyone liked it!
Please review and tell me everything you think, absolutely everything. I encourage all criticism and feedback. Thanks for all the support, guys! I love my readers!