I'm so sorry this took so long to put up. I could name a million excuses as to why it took so long (mainly schoolwork I swear), but I won't waste your time with that. This one was a little arduous, so a thousand pardons if you guys feel like this chapter isn't just up to snuff with the other ones. Things are a little hectic right now.
Oh and btw holy crap over 100 reviews?! Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this story. When I first started writing this I never thought it would do this well so again, thank you so much for sticking with it and with me. I love you guys.
Karali: Thank you so much you have no idea what that means to me! I will definitely check out your story, but if it's Teen Titans I have to warn you I'm not really reading any of those particular fanfics right now because of my own story. I don't want my ideas to get mixed up with other peoples' brilliant stories (do you know what I mean?).
lunar silver: Haha don't worry I haven't forgotten about the flowers. I'm just waiting for the right time for Raven to find out.
Grinning Cheshire: I can see how Beast Boy was a little OOC, but i'm trying to write them all as older and more mature, and even darker in some ways, so bear with me as I experiment. Thank you for pointing that out though. And don't worry, no more school uniform for a while! I hate that thing too.
A lot of you have commented on keeping the characters, well, in character, and I want to give a huge THANK YOU to anyone who wrote that. Seriously guys, this feedback helps. Thank you.
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Raven was meditating when the door finally re-opened. She opened her eyes to find Beast Boy walking back in. She eyed him expectantly, but his face was solemn and blank as if nothing had just happened.
She was just about to question him when he silently walked over and placed her leotard and cloak on the bed.
"Figured you'd wanna change into something else. We found these with your belongings. You can come outside when you're done," was all he said before backing away and exiting once more.
Besides the distant rush of the air conditioner in the above vents, there was only silence.
Raven scooped up her leotard and cloak and hugged them to her chest, inhaling the comforting scent of jasmine. While she didn't exactly approve of them going through her things, she was grateful she could finally get out of her stupid school uniform.
She didn't think they would actually watch her change from the other side, but just to be sure, she pulled the bed's curtain around for privacy.
Her leotard fit her like a glove and the cloak was almost the equivalent of a security blanket for her. She then realized how long it had been since she'd felt so much like herself, so comfortable and so powerful.
She pulled back the curtain and slid her boots on, enjoying their utilitarian ease in contrast to the uselessness of the ballet flats.
When she was satisfied with her apparel she briskly walked to the door and slid it open, expecting Beast Boy. She frowned. The alien girl was waiting for her. No one else.
Awesome.
Raven studied the arresting girl. Standing face to face, she realized just how tall and intimidating the alien really was. Azar, she must have been nearly 6'2.
The alien girl was also observing Raven with a critical eye. Raven frowned.
"I will take you to the control room now. The others are waiting," the alien girl suddenly said glacially. She gestured for Raven to walk with her.
Might as well hear what they had to say.
Raven shrugged and found her pace with the foreboding girl. The door to her emotions was carelessly left wide open, and Raven could practically feel a headache emerging as she was pummeled with an array of emotions.
This girl felt everything all the time and she felt it so strongly, for the life of her Raven could not fathom how she lived this way with so many emotions bubbling all the time.
Right now the alien's emotions were ablaze. She was angry with Raven, that much was clear. And apprehensive. And resentful. And...curious? There was a twinge of sadness in there too, which perplexed Raven even more.
The walk seemed never ending at this point. It didn't help that the two girls were engulfed in tense silence either.
Aiming to release some of the tension, Raven spoke up.
"Sooo...what's your..name?" she broached.
The beautiful alien remained solemn. "You may call me Starfire."
"Ahhh.." Raven awkwardly answered.
It grew silent again. Nothing could be heard except the light padding of the two girls through the empty, dark hallway.
"I gather from your warm hospitality that you don't like me very much Starfire," Raven deadpanned, giving up on civil conversation.
"You have endangered my friends on several occasions, especially Beast Boy. So far, I have no reason to like you," she stated simply.
Raven pursed her lips and nodded in understanding. She had a point.
Finally, Starfire stopped in front of one of the larger doors. Just as Raven was about to walk in, Starfire halted her, firmly grasping Raven's arm in her powerful grip.
The unwelcome contact infuriated Raven and forgetting herself, she glared up at the alien.
But Starfire just glared right back. "If you hurt my friends, be forewarned, I will not be merciful. It is you that needs to be doing the watching of the back," she glowered.
Before Raven could get a word in, Starfire released her arm callously and swiftly walked into the room, the large door sliding open in welcome.
The room was spacious and finely decorated with all the best technology. It appeared to be a living room and a kitchen all in one. Behind the excessively large plasma-screen TV was a massive window overlooking the Jump City harbor and city. It was a truly gorgeous view.
Starfire purposefully strutted across the room and sat down next to Robin on the dark couch facing the TV. The other Titans were already sitting down, each observing the strange grey girl, but in different ways.
Robin's face was a little hard to read, but that was nothing new. No doubt he had a slew of questions prepared just for her. There was the usual anxious, pent-up energy radiating off him.
The cyborg looked like he was trying to decide whether he wanted to punch Raven or simply envelope her in a bone-crushing hug. He seemed nice enough, if you weren't on his bad side.
Beast Boy was sitting right in between Robin and the cyborg, as if to form a protective barrier around him. Raven cocked an eyebrow in disdain. What in the name of Azar had he told them about her?
"Nice outfit," Beast Boy commented placidly, looking up at her. "Suits you a lot better than that cheesy school uniform."
Raven considered his words before nodding slowly in agreement. She never wanted to wear that awful skirt ever again. "Thanks," she mumbled.
Beast Boy gave a small smile before gesturing for Raven to sit down on the couch with him and the rest of the team. Raven eyed him skeptically for a few seconds, but in the end gave in and sat down on the farthest end of the couch, leaving an almost comical gap between her and the Titans.
The clock on the granite kitchen counter tick-tocked mockingly in the silence and Raven couldn't help but drum her fingers against her pale grey thighs impatiently, her posture upright and stiff in the awkwardness of the situation.
Curiosity seemed to finally win over in the cyborg's silent debate with himself as he scooted closer to Raven and offered his large, metallic hand. "So, you're the Raven BB's been talking about all week. Name's Cyborg," he said genially, a wide grin adorning his face.
Beast Boy's face flushed and Raven could've sworn she saw Robin's lips twitch with a smile. "Dude!" Beast Boy admonished indignantly, smacking Cyborg lightly on the back.
"What?" Cyborg asked innocently, turning to look back at Beast Boy.
Embarrassingly, Raven found herself blushing at Cyborg's first comment as well. Shyly, she took his hand, giving it a firm shake. "Nice to meet you, Cyborg," she monotoned, attempting to act indifferent about the whole matter.
Cyborg leaned back comfortably into the sofa and held his gaze on Raven, a laughter in his single human eye, as if he knew something she didn't.
While introductions were nice, Raven couldn't help but wonder what the heck she was still doing there, and furthermore, why they were being so pleasant with her all of a sudden. Well, most of them were being pleasant with her anyway.
"Soooo," Raven began dryly. "Not that this hasn't been a blast or anything, but I'm going to leave now. Let's do this again real soon though."
Before she could even move to stand up, Cyborg had his massive hand on her small shoulder, mutely informing her that they weren't quite finished with her yet. Robin was the first to speak.
"I'm sorry, Raven, but we can't let you leave quite yet," he voiced authoritatively.
Raven stubbornly yanked her shoulder out from Cyborg's grip and sighed impatiently. "I already answered all your questions, what more could you possibly want from me?"
Robin's eyes flashed darkly. "The man who was in your apartment isn't just another dangerous criminal. He's psychotic, and he'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. If I just let you go back out there now, I'll be putting your life in danger."
Frustration began to consume her. How dare he speak to her that way, as if she was as helpless as an infant, unable to protect herself. Obviously Beast Boy had failed to mention the extent of Raven's power in his debriefings.
Feeling a little betrayed, Raven glanced over at Beast Boy. He was leaning forward on the couch, resting his forearms on his thighs, hands folded in the mimicry of prayer. His brow was furrowed in concern as he met Raven's eyes. Surely he knew she could take care of herself? Had she not proved that over the last few days?
A dark thought passed through her mind. Maybe if she singlehandedly destroyed their precious tower they'd have a little more faith in her abilities.
As if reading her thoughts, Beast Boy shook his head slightly, as if to say, "Don't even think about it, Raven."
Fine. Guess she was going to have to prove herself in other ways.
"I appreciate the thought, but I am more than capable of taking care of myself," Raven said tensely.
"It's not that we don't believe you, Raven, cuz believe me, BB's told us all about your temper," Cyborg jumped in, shooting Beast Boy a teasing look, who in turn was looking rather mortified at the moment. "But you don't know this guy like we do."
"Despite what details Beast Boy may have reported about my abilities, even he has no idea the true extent of my power," Raven argued.
She then looked to Beast Boy, whose knowing expression seemed to fortify her justification. He seemed somewhat aware she had been holding back in their previous...disagreements.
The other Titans still looked less than convinced, however.
"I was injured and, frankly, a little caught off guard by the strange man's presence in my apartment. The next time we meet, he won't have it so easy," Raven maintained.
Robin, who had been quiet for the past few minutes as if mulling something over, finally rejoined the conversation, shaking his head. "It's not safe for you out there. You need to stay here for a while. In the Tower."
If Raven had been a more animated person, her jaw may have dropped to the floor. But, as it were, she kept her same stoic face as she resisted the urge to reach over and strangle Robin's skinny neck.
Did this Boy Blunder seriously think he had any tangible control over Raven? Over her life?
The other Titans looked a little shocked as well at Robin's sudden proclamation, but more so in the notion that this had been a Plan Z type of idea that nobody actually thought would be put into action. The "desperate times call for desperate measures" plan of action.
Fists clenched, Raven swallowed and spoke as calmly as he voice would allow. "Look, I understand that this man is dangerous and that leaving puts my life in danger tenfold. But your arrogance truly knows no bounds if you think I'm just going to let you hold me hostage here."
"Got a point there, Robin," Beast Boy mumbled a little louder than he meant to.
Robin shot Beast Boy a look questioning whose side he was on before reverting back to Raven. "This isn't a permanent situation. Once we take down Slade, of course you'd be free to live wherever you want. But until then, we need you here, safe."
"Is that his name, then?" Raven asked dryly. Finally, a little information.
Robin furrowed his brow in confusion. "Who?"
"Slade."
Robin's expression grew stoney at the mention of his name, his body language more stiff and aggressive. "Yes."
Starfire's imposing countenance melted into deep unease as she cautiously placed her hand on Robin's shoulder, attempting to bring him back to earth.
Sensing his leader's sudden mental departure, Cyborg took over the conversation. "Uhh you'll have to excuse Robin for a little bit. Slade knows how to push his buttons better than anyone," he vaguely stated, as if it would explain everything.
Suddenly feeling a little claustrophobic, Raven stood up and excused herself to the bathroom before anyone could stop her.
When the control room's door slid closed behind her, Raven's smooth pace quickened into that of a slight jog as she took off down the dark hall.
She cursed under her breath when she heard his familiar voice call after her.
"Raven, wait!"
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I've only got about three weeks of school left and then I'm off for summer. Even though I've already started writing the next chapter I might not add it until I'm finished with school. Finals are coming up and...no explanation necessary. So yeah, don't expect a new chapter anytime soon. I'm so sorry, but yeah school has got to come first right now.
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
