Im dying to write all the time.. I must be obsessed lol. Okay well here's chap 12 (finally SORRY)omg so excited! People who made me sad by reading and not reviewing: CaptainSparky44. And once again Guest, you have amazed me with your psychic powers (but ur prediction comes later) it's fluffy time! Here ya go! RxR! Lol I just realized that has two meanings. RobinxRaven. ReadxReview. I'm stupid.
Raven POV
"Obliged to help you contain your powers at ALL times."
"It's for your own good."
"Arella please don't make me go back! Not again! I'm 13 I can control them I promise!" Pleading violet eyes stare helplessly up at her mother as they pull her away.
"The tears in your eyes and expression in your voice tells a different story Raven. I expect better from you this time." She replied coldly to her daughter, struggling in the arms of two monks.
Everything fades away until there is simply darkness and voices.
"You remember how to behave child. No powers, no weakness, no emotion. You are older and stronger since our last session. Consequently, the level shall be increased." The Azarathanian circled her like a vulture before it dug into an old carcass, watching as the other monks tied the terrified, purple haired girl into the ropes into an X like they always do. She knows better than to utter any sound at all, instead concentrating on taming the bristling monster inside fighting to get out.
The level of "Azarathanian Power Control Training" had been too high for her tiny body to handle.
They'd used whips and torches this time.
50 lashes to her back. Burns on her legs. And the usuals: cuts, bruises, dislocated or sprained bones.
She could feel her powers trying to mend her as some of the skin ripped off her shoulder blade sowed itself back together and scarred."Ah, ah ah, my little Black Bird. NO powers!" The one in the black robe reprimanded her while sliding a knife up her forearm, sadistic smirk only slightly visible under the cover of his hood. Raven tried so hard. She truly did. Pulled with all her might at the tendrils of blue and black screaming and pushing her barriers to the limit despite the worst pain of her life. How could she not scream? Her mother will be so disappointed. This pain was ONLY considered comparable to…
"…Raven…Raven! RaVEN!"
My eyes snap open as my body tenses and instinctually attempts to pull me into a seated position on the cot I'm lying in. Robin's restraining, gloved hand pressing on my uninjured shoulder stops me from sitting upright on the mattress as his mask curves to the position of his creasing eyebrows. Everything head to toe flares in sudden pain thanks to my stupid reaction. I work to keep it out of my expression, but for a guy with a mask on 24/7, Robin's much too observant. His face on the other hand, is a great big obvious billboard of concern.
"Raven? Are you alright?"
I'm getting seriously tired of that question.
"After the morphine wore off you began to whimper and squirm as you slept. I've been trying to wake you for 5 minutes. Was it another nightmare?"
"Yeah. Thanks for waking me up…" I sigh. Ever since that mind meld, we occasionally witness each other's particularly strong subconscious visions. He's probably remembering the night terrors I had too many of when my daddy dearest was on his way…ugh.
(A/N:shut up! in this universe "Haunted" was like he 4th episode in season 1)
Suddenly, the alarm beeped loudly and bathed the Tower in red periodically. Robin didn't move. I raise an eyebrow at him wondering why he isn't joining the footsteps of our teammates out the door. The alarm stopped blaring.
He smirks and explains, "I talked to Cyborg while you were asleep and we agreed that one Titan should stay here with you every time there's a crime we need to handle. I go first, then Cy, Beast Boy and then Starfire."
"What? None of you think I can take care of myself? I'm a super hero for a reason!" I yelled at him hoarsely which didn't properly emphasize the snappy implications of my tone of voice. Did I mention how much I hate this?
Robin chuckled. He chuckled! "Cyborg warned me you wouldn't like this. Raven look at yourself. You're covered in injuries, most of which will take at least a month to heal, the venom in your system took your powers and you're in constant pain. Villains will eventually notice that you aren't coming with us on missions and will either be curious enough to try and find you or will hear somehow that you're ill. Someone's got to be here to protect you at all times, no matter how much you hate being considered weak. Trust me, I know better than anyone how much that enrages you, but right now you are the most fragile member on this team and you need to accept that." Robin concludes his little speech with a look on his face that somehow manages to appear concerned and assertive at the same time. Or maybe that's just me feeling his emotions….
"Okay you seriously think those villains out there will be 'curious' enough to come snooping at the Titans Tower to find me? Sure they'll be wondering why the Teen Titans are suddenly a three person team when they go out to missions, but with Cyborg's security system I'd be fine. Besides, it's not like you guys take that long anyway." I'm not so important that the villains will come looking for me.
"Raven, you honestly don't see how valuable you are to m-this team? You're extremely clever and observant, your healing powers are definitely useful when anyone gets hurt, and your shields are sometimes the only thing keeping us from utter destruction. That's not even including how amazing you are during combat. I'm pretty sure any criminal smart enough to see that would want you eliminated and I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen while the others are out."
I can feel how sincere Robin is saying this and he can't possibly think I didn't catch that slip of the tongue. I haven't forgotten that he loves me, but now that I'm thinking straight, I keep trying to convince myself it's not true. This could cause endless problems if revealed and I hope he sees that. I hate the fact that I can't say anything either, but it's better we don't …act on this…
I sigh and turn my head away from my leader, not really able to disagree with his accurate statement or watch him look at me…like that.
"Something wrong Rae?"
Why do I always forget he can feel my emotions too?
"No." Grr. Even without the mental bond, he'd know that's a lie. I responded too quickly and he once told me that whenever I lie, my voice gets lower. He knows me too well.
He tilts his head and frowns in that sarcastic way that screams 'I don't believe you." And sometimes "reeeaaaallly?" I use that one a lot.
I glare.
He puts his hand on my cheek…again. I let him…just this once…hopefully. ONLY because the electric shock sent through my body distracts me from the constant agony.
"You know I can tell when there's something bothering you, right? We have a bond and you're my best …friend remember? Now please tell me the truth."
How could I deny him?
"I just…hate this. Being stuck in this boring room. Lying here like a pansy with all its stupid petals ripped off and they won't grow back any time soon. I hate this cot, I hate this IV, I hate igles. I just despise this whole situation I can't do anything about!" Well, it's not a lie…
"Why don't I entertain you then?"
Robin's POV
I leave her side for a minute to grab one of my favorite books from my immaculate bookshelf. When I get back to Raven's bedside, I hold in my hands a book I know we both enjoy. She turns those bright, violet eyes toward me, an obvious question, and I feel a fraction of the pain I know she must be enduring every minute she's awake, but at least there's a little bit of happiness I hope I instilled in her.
I read the cover, "Edgar Allan Poe's Complete Poetical Works. I hope you don't mind me reading some of my favorites?" I know the answer to that question.
I love that smile.
"It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.
The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.
But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea."
In my mind, Raven's name was on the page where Annabel's should have been. I ignored it for now...
Raven POV
This poem reminded me slightly of our own situation…Of all the poems he could have chosen. I mean, the Titan's Tower by the sea, mutual love unapproved of, I almost died… but this ran through my mind for only a millisecond for the stare we hold now...i don't realize how close we are until I can feel our breaths exchange…then we hear a high pitched squeaky whine launching into the room dressed in skimpy, plum purple.
"FRIENDS! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TO UP?"
I lose myself when I'm reading or writing. Like, I forget that I am just a girl sitting at a computer. I imagine the scene in my head, I imagine Raven being tortured, I see Robin comforting her and being the coolest superhero ever and I love it. Anything can happen in a story, and if you lose yourself in one - that's the most amazing feeling.~ stolen mostly from OnlyHurtInside's author note that I completely agree with.
SO FLUFF! Did you guys like the sappy side of Robbie *slap* ahem..Robin? was it too OOC?
Okay question: do you guys think Raven's powers are tied directly to her powers or can anyone be an empath? cuz i know she lost her powers, but do you think she should still be able to read the whole team's emotions?
As always REVIEW! I DON'T CARE HOW LONG AGO I POSTED OR PUBLISHED OR UPDATED, I STILL APPRECIATE EVERY ONE!
XOXO~shadow
