Hey guys! :)

A couple of people brought up the possibility of me writing about Raven's prophecy or bringing Trigon into this. These are intriguing ideas to be sure, but I'm sorry to say that this particular story won't be dealing with any of that. That would be a huge undertaking for me and I really don't want to butcher that character arc in any way so, yeah, I'm sorry but I won't be writing about those things anytime soon. But thanks for the suggestions! Always appreciated.

I do have further intentions for Terra's role in this story, but I'm not gonna give anything away just yet. Patience young tadpoles.

Pb3: Wow. That is a huge compliment. From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much. Thank you.

N3v3rm0r311949: You guys make me fangirl. A lot.

Shat. I keep forgetting to put disclaimers on my latest chapters. Please don't sue me I swear I don't own anything ever at all.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans or anything even remotely related to the Teen Titans. I swear.

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When she finished meditating a couple hours later, Raven quietly slipped out of her room and back downstairs to the control room in search of some kind of nourishment. It was still early, but that made no difference to her because she had always been more of a morning person anyway.

She longed deeply for a hot mug of earl grey tea, maybe even some toast or fresh berries if she could find any in the kitchen. She felt a little strange going through the Titans' fridge, but they had invited her stay here, after all. Besides, the last thing she wanted was for them to think that she intended for them to wait on her.

The doors whooshed open and Raven glided cautiously into the room, eager to keep the noise down to a minimum. Who knew how late the Titans slept and by no means did she want to piss anyone off by waking them up before nine in the morning.

Thinking she was alone at such an ungodly hour, she set about looking for a tea kettle.

"The kettle is in the cabinet under the sink."

Raven jumped at the sound of Robin's placid voice. She turned around slowly, finding Robin and Starfire sitting calmly at the breakfast table at the opposite end of the spacious room.

He seemed indifferent enough, reading the newspaper and sipping coffee. Starfire, on the other hand, was hardly attempting to hide the glacial stare in her frighteningly green eyes.

Raven resumed her activity, finding the cabinet Robin had mentioned and locating the stainless steel tea kettle toward the back, as if it were hardly ever used. She filled the kettle with water from the sink and proceeded to heat it on the stove top.

While she waited for the water to come to a boil, she tried to remember her moment of resolve from last night, her decision to try to be less selfish and make this situation more bearable for Beast Boy. The bitter, yet not completely surprising realization that she should probably get to know the Titans better and give them a chance before actually writing them off.

Yeah, like they'd given her a chance?

It wasn't their fault though, she had to remember that. If the roles were reversed, she'd probably act the way they were acting too (well, maybe not the exact same way, she'd behave a little more rationally, of course).

But she had to be realistic about the situation. All the Titans really knew about her was what Beast Boy had reported during the week-which had to be pretty hopeless, especially given Starfire's immediate reaction to Raven-and how Raven acted around them now. It also didn't help that Raven wasn't much for good first impressions.

Okay, so she was screwed.

A small, hopeful part of her refused defeat, however. Cyborg seemed to like her, though only Azar knew why. When they had met yesterday, she had hardly been the portrait of geniality, merely being polite to get him to stop focusing on her.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that it probably had more to do with Beast Boy and their friendship than anything. It made sense, didn't it? Even if his comments had been a little mortifying for both her and Beast Boy, Cyborg had been easygoing yesterday because he could see how much it meant to his teammate. She began to wonder if Beast Boy was helping her in more ways than she had initially imagined.

Alright, so Cyborg was allowing her a clean slate, but what about Robin and Starfire? Robin may be a stubborn ass, but his proficiency at closing himself off and concealing his emotions made him a slightly easier candidate to confront first. At least Raven wouldn't have to worry about his emotions pummeling her in the midst of apology.

Starfire was a different story, however. The very opposite of Robin, almost. She was like a dazzling flame. When she was happy and content, she crackled with life, unabashedly allowing others to bask in her generous warmth and care. But add a little fuel, or in this case negative emotions, and she became similar to a forrest fire, allowing herself and her emotions to grow furiously reckless, consuming everything in their path until they slowly and painfully fizzled out. Swaying Starfire's opinion of her would not be an easy task.

People like Starfire were almost loyal to a fault, believing the best in their friends even when people like Raven argue that it's hopeless. Obviously, Raven had managed to piss Starfire off sometime during the week. It was a little unfair though, the apartment incident really wasn't Raven's fault. It wasn't her fault Slade's drone broke in and blew up half of the top floor. It wasn't her fault the Titans showed up to save her.

But this mental argument was irrelevant. There was nothing she could do about what had happened in the past, all she could do now was try to right things as best she could and move forward. The negative energy Starfire was sending her was beginning to give her a headache anyway. Maybe if she offered some sort of awkward apology, both Starfire and Robin would back down a little.

"The tea bags are in the drawer to your left, and the mugs are in the upper cabinet behind you...although I'm not quite sure what kind of tea we have or if it's even any good," Robin mused without even glancing up from his newspaper, thoroughly interrupting Raven's internal contemplation in the process. Starfire remained seemingly disinterested and stoic as she watched him read, the sparks of her energy blazing heedlessly beneath the cool façade.

Raven allowed a small sigh to escape from her before gathering a mug from said cabinet and settling on a slightly faded bag of Jasmine tea. This was Robin's version of trying. Oh Azar, he was trying, wasn't he? A thought then occurred her: after leaving Raven last night, had Beast Boy spoken to him as well?

The kettle whistled a short while later and Raven retrieved it from the stove top. She poured the tea into the mug and strode over to the large table, taking a seat across from the two disquieting heroes. It was too painful for Raven to begin the conversation, so she just sat there sipping her tea awkwardly until Robin refolded the newspaper and looked up at her.

"Glad to see you decided to stay," he said.

Raven couldn't help herself. "Not like I really had a choice in the matter," she replied dryly, releasing more tension into the air. Yeah, that's what this situation needed, more tension. Way to go, Raven.

"Of course you had a choice," he countered, furrowing his brow.

Raven then stared him straight in the eye and shot him a "You've got to be kidding me" look. Robin caught her glare and exhaled. "Alright, so I may have been a little hard-headed last night," he began slowly.

A little?

"But you need to understand, Raven, my biggest concern right now is your safety. I get it, you're powerful, I'm not trying to take that or anything away from you. But Slade is different from those other thugs and villains, and worst of all he's targeted you specifically. He's a huge threat to this city and to everyone living in it and you weren't taking what I said seriously last night, so I had to act accordingly," he explained calmly, feeling wholeheartedly that his actions were justified.

This was quite the change from the ferociously serious Boy Wonder she had witnessed last night. This appeared to be his form of an apology, an attempt to amend what got blown out of proportion before it got any worse.

A part of her was tempted to brush him off, to make him try a little harder in seeking her forgiveness, but then she remembered Beast Boy and her resolution.

For her part, Starfire seemed a little perplexed by Robin's sudden change in disposition over Raven and her actions. She could feel her beginning to question her own decisions. If Robin, the most emotionally dense of them all, was changing tactics, should she as well?

Forgiveness was a two-way street. If Robin was going to try, Raven had to try as well, otherwise they wouldn't be able to move forward. She closed her amethyst eyes and prayed her mouth would say something meaningful and not just proceed to upset him and Starfire further.

"You're right."

Robin and Starfire's eyes widened considerably. This was assuredly not what they had been expecting from Raven. Even she was a little shocked by the words falling from her lips.

A little more confident in herself, she continued. "I understand why you acted the way you did," she then turned to a stunned Starfire. "both of you. And I apologize if my actions have endangered the team in any way or have hindered your efforts in capturing Slade."

Robin opened his mouth to speak, but Raven wasn't quite finished yet. "I understand that living here in the Tower is the best and safest option for me right now and I appreciate what you have done to keep me alive and safe. And if you need any help taking down Slade, I'm more than willing to assist."

Starfire was gazing at Raven meaningfully now. Her alien mind was bursting with a new rush of emotions, as if she were fighting to decide if Raven's apology had earned her respect. It would certainly lift a huge weight off Raven's shoulders.

"What changed your mind?" Robin asked, narrowing his masked eyes.

Raven glanced at the wide and clear windows looking out at the bay and Jump City. The beautiful Jump City skyline gleaming in the morning sun immediately caught her eye. So many people living in just that one city, all trying to make a life for themselves. They were no different from her, really, with just the minor exception of her exceptional powers.

She would do everything in her power to make sure the people of Jump City remained safe, so they could continue to strive for the life Raven had always longed for. A life buzzing with family, friends, and purpose.

"Our quarreling solves nothing," she explained simply, still admiring the view from their living room. "If what you said about Slade is true, then there is much more at stake here than just my well-being. I was selfish to put my interests ahead of the safety of Jump City...In the end, our working together is what's going to bring down Slade."

Robin probed her face, searching for any lies or duplicity in her message, any hidden agendas of any kind. But there was nothing deceitful about her gaze. Besides, even if she was lying to them, did they really think she'd allow them to detect it on her so easily?

"I...believe you," Starfire suddenly spoke up. Her beautiful green eyes were lit up in hope and joy. Raven stiffened self-consciously, meeting her trusting gaze in wonder.

She was not so accustomed to people placing their faith in her, for seeing something besides evil within her. It was a strange feeling to be seen as someone who could prove valuable in a way that didn't involve deception or universal domination.

Robin was looking at Raven now too, and, as if taking a cue from his teammate, he nodded, smiling slowly. "That's good enough for me. Welcome aboard, Raven, we're glad to have you here to help."

He offered his green gloved hand, and Raven took it, shaking it firmly. "Thanks, Robin."

Not even a second later Raven found herself being lifted off the ground into a bone-crushing, lung-asphyxiating hug. "Oh, Raven! I am so delighted that we can all be the friends, now! And it is so gloriously wonderful to have another female on the team!"

"Uhh, Starfire?" she choked out, wheezing slightly.

"Mmhmm?"

"Would you mind putting me down? I'm not much of a...hugger," Raven felt a pang of guilt as Starfire's disappointment washed over her. The last thing Raven wanted to do was upset her.

"Oh...I see," Starfire sadly relented, placing Raven back down on the carpet carefully. She seemed nice enough, she just had to back off on the hugging.

"Raven won't be able to help us if you kill her, Star," Cyborg joked as he entered the room. The door whooshed closed behind him as he made his way down the carpeted stairs and over to the refrigerator. He took out a carton of eggs, milk, a block cheddar cheese, and a few dozen thickly cut slices of ham and put them on the counter, the key ingredients necessary for his morning omelet.

Raven grabbed her empty mug and treaded into the kitchen area, disposing of her tea bag and rinsing the mug in the sink. As she placed the mug on a towel to dry, Cyborg leaned in to grab a frying pan from a nearby cabinet.

"Good morning," he greeted her pleasantly.

"Morning."

"So I gather everything's cool now between you, Star, and Robin?"

Raven looked back at Robin and Starfire. The two were easy and relaxed now, enjoying the morning as if it were any other day. Starfire seemed to be asking questions about a particular headline in the morning paper, and Raven tried not to laugh when she spied the flush growing on Robin's face, as if Starfire's questions embarrassed him somehow.

"Yes, I suppose it is," she replied, looking up at Cyborg kindly. She really was grateful for the way he had treated her last night. Already, she felt a comforting kinship to the towering tech man.

With Raven in tow, Cyborg went back to the stove top and began heating the pan, whistling cheerily as he cracked eggs into a bowl.

"I'm assuming Beast Boy is a late sleeper?" Raven inquired out of nowhere. Where the hell had that come from?

Cyborg smiled knowingly as he whisked the eggs. "Yeah, the grass stain is all about his beauty sleep. He won't be up for at least an hour or two."

"Aahh," was all Raven could think to reply.

"But, then again, with you here, you never know..." he added cryptically, chuckling. Raven decided to take his comment at face value. He was just teasing, that's all.

"Mind if I explore the Tower?"

Cyborg shrugged. "Go right ahead. This is your home now, too."

For now, anyway, Raven mused as she walked out of the room. Cyborg was right though. Even if it was a temporary situation, Raven was living here and she needed to be able to get around without getting lost in the many corridors and levels.

A short while later, she somehow ended it up on the Tower's roof.

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So, I'm posting this chapter a little sooner than usual because I will be on a short trip for the next few days and I didn't want to leave you guys hanging. Well, leave you hanging more than usual that is, muahahahahaha.

Thanks for reading! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.