Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans. I only own my OC, John Smith
I hovered right outside the Tower, in my Wraith-form, invisible to all. Time passed and the sun came down, turning Jump City Bay's waters to molten gold. Peaceful. Calm. A beautiful sunset. Perfect for meditation. She should come up to the roof…oh…about…now.
Right on cue, the door to the roof opened and Raven stepped out, her hood lowered. She glanced round the roof, making sure she was alone, and assumed a cross-legged meditation pose. Her eyes closed, her breathing calm and controlled, she hovered a couple of feet off the floor, softly chanting her mantra.
"Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos…Azarath…Metrion…"
Meditation was something private, and I didn't want to intrude on her privacy again. Not that I couldn't look at her for hours. I let the Wraith become visible, and coughed gently.
Her eyes snapped open, more angry than surprised and she tumbled to the floor, her concentration broken. She was up in a second, her fists wreathed in her dark energy.
"I thought I smelled a rat." she snapped, her voice ice cold.
"That would be Beast Boy, downstairs." I said with an apologetic smile. "Sorry for interrupting you and all…"
"Have you been stalking us?" she growled, her eyes glowing white. "Have you been prowling across the Tower invisible, you perverted freak?"
"Hey, Hey!" I exclaimed, raising my hands defensively. "Whom do you take me for? I am a thief, fine. A 'cold-blooded murderer', according to some. But not some kind of peeping Tom! I only waited for you, out here!"
She glared, but let her power fade. She nodded, warily. "What do you want?"
"Well…" I hesitated. "…for one thing, I wanted to ask if you would like some tea?"
She gave me a blank look.
"See…I know a nice tea shop, down in the Japanese part of town, that serves the best tea I've ever…"
"Are you mad?" she snapped, her voice so cold it sent goosebumps down my spine. "Are you asking me out?"
I scratched the back of my head, nervously. It didn't seem like that good an idea now.
"Well…no, not quite." I stuttered. "Not a date per se…more like…a…well…"
"A date." she said. "You-a thief, a wanted criminal, a soon-to-be murderer- are asking me-a superhero-out on a date."
"Well…yes?" I mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
"Get out." she growled. "Now."
She turned defiantly and made for the door, her cloak flowing behind her.
"Raven!" I cried. "Wait!"
I made to follow her, but froze for a moment. In her wake I had sensed something…familiar.
I beat her to the door, and before she could react I had slid my hand under her cloak.
"What…?!" she cried, outraged.
"Aha!" I responded, and from a pocket on the inside of the cloak I produced a thin strip of paper, enchanted to look like a branch of silvery-black jasmine.
She blushed a deep (for Raven) crimson.
"Give it back!" she said.
"I never took it." I answered, grinning, and the flowers dissolved into nothing. "How could I? I'm not really here…"
"And wipe that smile of your face!" she growled. "This…isn't what it looks like!"
I nodded, while she pocketed the flowers once more. "I believe you." I said, my grin never leaving my face. "After all, I am a thief, a criminal, a soon-to-be murderer; you clearly don't want anything to do with me."
She glared a Glare Of Death at me.
"I was studying your technique." she explained. "Trying to find weaknesses in your spells."
"Perfect!" I exclaimed. "Then you won't mind joining me for some tea. You'll get the chance of spotting my weaknesses, won't you? And if it's that important to you, we won't call it a date. How about…a truce, a half-time in our little wizards' duel." Her eyes softened a bit. "After all, I did help you out the other night-OK,I saved my hide as well! Come on…What do you say?"
She bit her lip.
"Just tea?"
"Just tea."
She nodded.
"OK, then." I said, suppressing a whoop of triumph. "Try to keep up with me."
The "Tokugawa" teahouse wasn't very well known, which was a pity. It most definitely served nice tea, provided a pleasant atmosphere and reasonable prices. I guess the only drawback was that it lied inside the Japanese slums of Jump City. Okoro-san, the owner, had no choice but to pay protection money to the Yakuza, but still he was a good friend of Jason and one of the best informants I had. I had asked him to close the teahouse early for the public: it would not be good if people should see a Titan visiting a mob hangout. Not good for Raven's reputation, and definitely not good for Okoro.
He ushered her in, his glance darting nervously round the street. I gave a chuckle and returned to my body, that waited patiently, sitting cross-legged on the tatami floor. I got up and bowed to them as they entered the serving room.
"How pleased I am to see you, little blackbird." I said. "May I introduce Okoro-san, the best tea-brewer in Jump City. Okoro-san, this is Miss Raven."
She bowed gracefully, but Okoro just gave a shudder and rushed to his tea-kettle infested kitchen.
"He is just scared that he will be seen entertaining a Titan." I explained. "Usually, he is far more jovial. Please, make yourself comfortable…"
"You didn't mention that we would be alone." she monotoned, sitting down.
"Well…I had asked Okoro-san to accommodate us before we decided that this wasn't going to be a date." I answered, sitting opposite her. "I thought this would me more…romantic. Of course now it does make things a little awkward. I am sorry. If it bothers you, I could set up an Illusion of other guests around us…?"
"It doesn't bother me." she said. "Keep out of my mind."
I winced.
"Once again, I prove myself as insensitive as a hippopotamus with heatstroke. My apologies" I said. She snorted.
"A hippopotamus with heatstroke? What a pleasant image."
"Indeed." I deadpanned. "I am good with images. Would you like to order now?"
"Yes." she said firmly. "The sooner we get this over with, the better."
I placed a hand over my heart, assuming a hurt expression. "Ouch!" I said. "That hurt. Are you that eager to get rid of me? Still, I guess you're right. Okoro-san!" I cried. "Can we order now?"
The old man entered the room, carrying a huge tray of small pots, all tightly sealed with corks.
"What is that?" asked Raven, a small note of interest creeping into her voice.
"Well, Okoro-san does not follow the Japanese tea-serving tradition." I explained, as he left the tray between us and backed away. "He has spent most of his life combining herbs into tea recipes: These pots contain samples of each herbal mixture. Just open and inhale. Then, when you find what you like, order it."
She opened a small flask and took an experimental whiff. Her eyes opened wide, in wonder.
"You like it." I said, grinning. "Don't stop, you might find something better."
"What…?"
"…is in it?" I completed for her. "I don't know. Only Okoro-san knows. But he mentioned once that none of his recipes contain less than eight different herbs."
She popped another pot open, and another. I couldn't suppress a chuckle.
"What about you?" she asked, peering over a flask rim.
"What about me?" I asked.
"Don't you want to order?"
"Oh." I smiled. "I am an old customer. I know what I want. Please, honor me with the usual, Okoro-san."
Okoro didn't smile. He was just standing there, still looking very nervous.
"This one, please." said Raven, raising a red-black slender tube. I chuckled again as Okoro picked up the tray and retreated into his Holy-of-Holies.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"The recipe you picked." I answered. "It's called Yatagarasu: Sun Raven. Fitting, I believe."
She was surprised; but she scowled. "There is nothing sunny about me. How exactly is it fitting?" she asked.
"Well…" I stammered. "Have you ever seen your face when you smile?"
"No" she replied, her voice expressionless. "And neither have you."
"Oh, but I have." I said. "In the old observatory? When we declared war? You smiled. And-I am just complimenting here, please don't be mad-it did seem like your face lit up."
For a moment our eyes locked together and during that moment I thought she would smile. Unfortunately, Okoro chose that moment to return, carrying a tray with cups, a pot of boiling water and two bamboo tubes, containing the herbal mixture. I cursed him inwardly, as Raven looked over to him, blushing slightly.
He set the tray on the floor, emptied the bamboo tubes in the cups and added boiling water. The tea took different colors: hers was a deep crimson, mine a lighter orange.
"Don't drink it yet." I warned her. "It's too hot-scalding. Give it a couple of minutes."
I noticed that Okoro was trembling as he returned to the kitchen. This was getting ridiculous.
"I am sorry," I told Raven. "but if I don't want the poor fella to have a heart attack, I think I should go and calm him down."
"Go ahead." she said, not looking up from her tea.
I walked up to the paper door and slid it open. It was a large-ish room, row upon row of steel tables and cupboards. No sign of Okoro. I entered the small kitchen, avoiding the bundles of herbs hanging from the ceiling.
"Okoro-san?" I cried.
I found him curled up against a pantry door, crying softly.
"Okoro-san!" I exclaimed, kneeling next to him. "What is the matter? Please calm down! The Yakuza will never know, I told you, and even if they did, I will protect you. Please, don't be scared…"
"I…am…not…afraid…of the Yakuza." he said between sobs. "I…am afraid…of you…John-san."
I was baffled.
"Afraid of me?" I stuttered. "But why, Okoro-san?"
"He threatened me!" wailed Okoro. "…said he'd kill Jaro and Iza…"
"Your children?" I asked, still not understanding. "Who threatened you?"
"The masked man…" whispered Okoro, and cold crept down my spine.
"What masked man?" I asked, dread rising up to choke me.
"Black and orange." whispered Okoro. "And his eye…oh his eye!"
"What did you do?" I screamed, grabbing his shirt and shaking him back and forth. He whimpered and pointed at a table. On it was a small bottle.
"He said you might bring a lady here. Said she would be half Oni…half demon. This would…"
I wasn't listening. The little bottle was labeled: a small cross and an inscription.
I am the Resurrection and the Life
Holy Water.
"RAVEN!"
She was writhing on the floor, her mouth open in a silent scream. Her tea was spilled, painting the floor around her a deep red, but she still held her cup tightly in her fist.
"Raven!" I cried again, picked her up and carried her to the kitchen, where I laid her on the first table I could find. "Do you have anything that will cause her to throw it up?" I growled at Okoro. He nodded, terrified, and dashed to his stores.
"I don't know if you can hear me in there," I cried to Raven. "but if you can, fight it!"
Okoro came back and thrust a small vial, full with a sticky black substance in my hands. I uncorked it, held Raven's flailing arms down and poured a good measure of it down her throat. At first it made no difference; for a moment I thought she was beyond help. Then she leaned to the side and threw up, the tea she had drunk mingled with her blood, that sizzled and blackened, as if burned by acid. She lay back again, calmer, but still moaning.
"Hurts…Azar!...It hurts…" she whispered.
"It's OK." I tried to calm her. "You've been through worse. I can't believe that a Titan will die of poisoning, of all things."
She let out something between a cough and a gagged sigh and grasped my hand so hard it hurt. Her breath came out in ragged gasps.
"Help…" she whispered. "The pain…"
I mentally slapped myself. I had forgotten all about my powers. I laid a hand on her forehead.
"Gaia…Aerion…Menthos" I murmured and dulled her pain as best as I could. Her breathing didn't ease up, however. She must've been very hurt inside.
"John-san…?" said Okoro, behind me.
I'll kill you. Slowly. I'll kill you, you little piece of…
"What?" I growled.
"The masked man." he said. "He told me…when I had…you know…I should go upstairs and hide. He said he would come for you."
I didn't look at him. With Raven dying before my eyes, it was getting hard to concentrate.
"He will come here?" I asked, stupidly.
"No, John-san." answered Okoro. "He said he would send something…you wouldn't fool. He said…"
"OK." I cut in. "I get it. Are Jason's Adders still here? I remember he had let you keep them."
He nodded eagerly. "Downstairs."
"Get them." I ordered sharply. "Shrapnel ammo."
Raven's hand tightened on mine once more. I turned back to her.
"What…was it?" she coughed.
"Holy Water." I answered. "Don't worry. We got it out. You'll be OK."
She shook her head, no.
"No. Too much pain. Too weak. My SoulSelf…hurt. Stops my powers from healing me."
"We'll find a way, little blackbird." I said. "It'll be alright. Relax."
"RELAX?!" she had a fit of coughing that brought up blood. "I'm dying and you tell me to relax? What kind of idiot are you, Smith?"
"The optimistic kind. You're not dead yet." I answered firmly. "Don't give up."
She groaned.
"What is wrong with me?" she whined. "I get killed on my first date?"
"I thought it wasn't a date…" I smiled in spite of the situation.
"Yeah, well, you wouldn't know a date if it up and bit you, Smith." she sneered and collapsed in a coughing ft.
Okoro burst in, fumbling with the two Adders and carrying some ammo clips. Six clips. Not much.
"There you are, John-san." he said. I took the guns and slapped two clips in.
"What is going on?" asked Raven.
"We are going to have visitors." I answered grimly. "Slade has decided to play rough."
Right on cue, the outer door shuddered under a tremendous blow. I gulped audibly. It was a solid two-inch-thick steel door. Okoro went for paper-thin interior walls, but the outer walls were built bunker-like. It was a dangerous neighborhood.
"Get her upstairs. Lock yourselves in the safest room you got. Keep her alive, or by God, you'll wish you were never born." I ordered Okoro.
"Smith?" asked Raven, a note of alarm creeping into her voice. "What are you doing?"
"Getting us out of here, alive." I answered. Okoro tried to pick her up, but she flinched away. "It's OK." I reassured her. "He won't try anything, if he knows what's good for him."
Okoro blanched, but picked her up. She winced in pain. Another blow dented the door.
"Don't get yourself killed." she whispered. I grinned reassuringly.
"Right now, this is the least of my worries." I said. "How much time until the Titans arrive?"
"They…won't." she answered. "We… don't respond to trouble in the slums. Too…often…too…violent. There's…nothing we can do…Robin says…"
"Bird Brain!" I mumbled, checking the dented door. Not much time. "OK, get her somewhere safe." I growled and Okoro sprinted up the stairs, Raven in his arms.
I walked out to the serving room, guns at the ready. For the first time, in a long time, I was mad. Not 'annoyed' mad. Not 'furious' mad. Really, uncontrollably, horrifyingly mad.
A/N: What can I say? This will be, probably, the biggest showdown (in terms of word count, not importance) of the fanfic. Smith VS Sladebots. (evil grin) I tell you, this will hurt.
Many thanks to all reviewers. Yay! I got another! Hello Devilchild: I like it too... ;-)
Vampiric Vanity/Ghostalker: Thanks! I think this chapter is longer than usual. Enjoy!
Oh, and like I said before, I am trying to keep away from OOCness. Constructive criticism welcomed and asked for. R&R, everybody! Please...?