Unedited Summary: What happens when those we love write us off as crazy? The Titans knew a girl, a girl who spent her life in the shadow of others. They said the outside world was too much for her, that having to make moral decisions literally made her go crazy. Even Terra, her sister, was forced to accept the girl's fate. Yet in the darkness even crazies catch glimpses of light.
Disclaimer: I do not own teen titans or the teen titan's characters. The only character in this story I own is Max Steeler.
Explanation: This is a sequel to "The Untold Story of Max Steeler." This story is told from Max's perspective, which is not exactly stable. Hope you enjoy!
Time is rather relative when your grapefruit's gone bonkers.
Bonkers.
I used to watch a cartoon at the testing lab—that place I thought was a real home—called Bonkers. A cracked pot version of Tigger running around solving crimes. I'm a demented Tigger.
Tale as old as time. Song as old as...as old as...
Blasted.
I think that was another cartoon from my childhood.
Childhood.
I wish a nice doctor would come take me away in a blue box to a time where things weren't so muddled.
"Are you a doctor?" I would ask.
"The Doctor," he would reply.
"Doctor who?"
"Exactly!"
I think the story would end badly.
Maybe if a different doctor would come and take me away in a fancy car. We could go back in time and fix it . . .
No . . .
I might end up kissing Slade or something and that would be gross.
I can't go back and fix it.
I can only move forward.
Move forward.
I concentrate all my efforts into my legs.
A small twitch.
I stretch one foot forward. Then the other. I drag my body slightly forward.
I was doing it.
I was moving forward.
Then I fell sideways.
I wish a doctor would come take me away in a blue box. I don't care if he doesn't have a real name. I don't care if he'd only be a number.
He could lose me in other dimension or wipe my memory or practically anything, and I still don't think I'd care. Anything would be better than this.
SLADE! SLADE!
I wish I could scream the words exploding in my mind.
I'M SORRY. I'm so ... so ... so sorry. Take me away in a blue box. Take me away from this pitiful existence. Fix me. Let's go back in time and fix me.
I don't know if he hears me. I don't know if he cares.
Someone rushes into the room. She leans over me. Her blue cape falls over my body.
"Slade...fix..."
The words are slurred, but they seem to come from my own lips. Did I just speak?
The Raven focuses her eyes on me.
"No," she whispers. "Not him. Never him, Max."
She cradles my head in her hands.
"I know you're afraid, Max. Everyone's afraid, even me."
She places two fingers on my head.
"Let me show you something. I think it might help."
A flash of light blurs my vision. It's dark. Then light again.
I'm standing in a world unknown to me.
A Raven approaches me in a pink cape. She giggles.
"Hey, Max!"
"Hello."
"I'll show you around! Doesn't that sound fun?"
I hesitate before responding.
"Yeah," I say smiling. "That actually sounds really fun."
She takes a few steps forward. I'm about to follow, but stop and look behind me at a eery looking archway. Through the shimmering warped clearness of what I gather is a door, I can see Raven holding my limp body.
"Raven," I ask.
"Yeah?"
"Is this real? Or am I dead..."
"Nah, you're not dead silly! You're in my head."
"Oh," I sigh with relief. "Is that why it feels so clear? Because I'm out of my own head and into yours?"
She nods. "Now let's get that clarity crystal clear, alright? Then we can go back."
She holds out her hand, and I take it. Butterflies leap into my throat, and I swallow them back down.
Don't hope.
Don't dream.
Just be.
