Chapter 14- Let's Go To Church

He didn't know how he managed to do it, but somehow Robin found himself inside of Raven's head. At first he thought he was dreaming or perhaps imagining it, but when he felt the corrupt emotions within her, he realised that he was most definitely in Raven's mind. He could see shattered pieces of a what was once a plate scattered around her, he didn't even want to imagine what she had been through. Robin hadn't meant to pry, but he had been in her head a short while before making his presence known.

He was waiting for the right moment to go,

"Hey Raven, guess what, somehow I've been transported into your mind!"

Instead he had joined her at an extremely bad time. Robin wasn't sure the last time he had seen Raven cry out of emotional pain, if he even had at all, and not only witnessing it but physically feeling what she felt was a haunting experience. He hoped he had timed it right.

"I am guessing that it wasn't you who actually summoned my mind to enter yours?" Robin asked the empath using his mind.

"No, it's probably because our minds are already linked, and because I was thinking of…" Raven didn't want to admit that she had been sentimental.

"Your family" Robin said reassuringly, sending positive vibes through Raven's mind. Robin prided himself on being able to brighten everyone up. He may be a perfectionist, a little hard edged and most of the time hard at work, but he always knew how to keep his friends happy, how to be optimistic.

His words seemed to banish Raven's feelings of uncertainty, and knowing that Robin was not judging her she continued,

"My guess is that as I was thinking of you, my mind reached out for yours subconsciously."

"I'm glad it did. Now I have a way of keeping in touch with you. Unfortunately I can't say the same for Beast Boy…"

"Actually, I have been able to contact Beast Boy"

"Really?" Robin was impressed, he was sure that only people who Raven had physically made a connection with could communicate with her. Unless…

Of course, he had let the fact that Raven and Beast Boy had… Something going on between them- although he wasn't sure exactly what- and realised that she must've made a link with him earlier, even if she hadn't meant to.

The news still shocked him, but he couldn't focus on his teammates love life right now, although he vowed that once they were out of this crisis, he would enjoy teasing the two opposites about their relationship, the same way Beast Boy likes to irritate him about Starfire, even more so that they were now official.

"Yes, I have spoken to him, but something doesn't make sense"

"What?"

"I saw him, earlier… here. But then when I spoke to him, he said that he wasn't where I am and-" She paused,

"Robin you have to go"

"Okay, but first can you tell me anything about your location?"

"I'm in a church, there are a lot of trees around me, I don't know anything else, I only have one window."

"Okay Raven, that's still helpful, I'll get Cyborg to pull up a satellite view, see if we can find any abandoned churches in a woodland area. You'll be out of there in no time okay? Now just hang tight, we will find you"

"Robin?"

"Yes"

"Thank you… For… You know… being so optimistic"

"I'm your leader, it's my job as your leader and also as your friend, I'll check in with you tomorrow."

"Okay, bye"

"Bye"

Robin opened his eyes, he was back in the ops room alone.

"Cyborg?!" He called for his robotic friend.

Cyborg came running into the room,

"Yeah?"

"I need you to pull up all the satellite images of the city and Gotham. We are looking for a church in a woodland area" The boy wonder said as Cyborg began typing away at a computer, a map appearing on the large monitor.

"That where you think she is?" Cyborg asked.

Robin quickly explained what had just happened, Cyborg listened intently whilst working away at the computer, as Robin finished explaining a picture of an abandoned church just outside of the city appeared, along with its coordinate points.

"Looks like we're going to church" Cyborg said with a grin.

Beast Boy squinted as the door of his prison cell opened.

"How are we this morning?" The man whose name he did not yet know asked, his scarily pale face stretching into a grin.

Beast Boy said nothing.

"You know, I feel a little pity for you. The only reason you are here is because of someone else's mistakes."

"See dude, I think that's a totally unreasonable reason to keep me locked up!" Beast Boy complained.

"Oh, but you do come in useful, I tell you something boy, you gave her quite the scare"

Beast Boy scowled,

"What are you talking about"

The Dark Prince paced the room,

"Ah, you know exactly what I'm talking about, you are just in denial. You believe that I used her to hurt you, but it's really the other way about."

"She's dead" Beast Boy stated angrily.

"Maybe in your world yes, but in this world she is very much alive… For now"

Beast Boy's eyes widened.

It would make sense, the last thing he remembered was going to sleep and then suddenly he woke up in a dank cell terrified. And seeing Raven, having her recognise him and speak to him, well that could be the only explanation.

"Dude, are you saying that I'm in some kind of alternate reality?"

"And bingo was his name-o" The Dark Prince sang sarcastically.

In this world, Raven was still alive, and apparently so was he. But if that was the reality then what was different? What hadn't happened? What had happened? He wanted to know.

"Since you've already met one of your friends from this world, how about I introduce you to the rest?"

"Really…? Wait but you're a bad guy so-"

Beast Boy's speech was cut off by a sack being shoved roughly over his head.

"This is just a precaution, I don't want you turning into any animals! Oh, and try to escape and I will hurt her, got it?"

Beast Boy nodded under the sack, finding it hard to breathe. The strange's threat fresh in his ears, even if he did not know this Raven, it was still Raven, and there was no way he was going to risk her safety, even if they weren't the closest of friends. If he had had the chance to save her in his own reality, he would have taken it.

Reluctantly, Beast Boy allowed himself to be hauled out of his dark prison and out into the sunlight where he could hear a car running.

Soon enough he was shoved into what felt like the boot, and driven away from the place where Raven was, speedily growing further and further apart from the friend he missed so much.

Terra noticed Beast Boy's unusual stiffness when she took his hand. She didn't want to press him, since he had been acting so strange all morning due to his apparent nightmare and he was clearly still stressed about it. She couldn't deny the twinge of jealousy she felt when Raven's name was mentioned, Beast Boy had admitted to her when they first started dating that he had once had feelings for her, but swore that they were gone- and then the end happened, and she was gone. Terra had to admit that she was thankful that Raven was no longer in the picture.

The couple were nearing the library, Beast Boy took note of how identical this world was to his. Nothing seemed different, well nothing apart from the lack of Raven.

"We've never done this before" Terra said with a smile, catching Beast Boy off guard.

"Never done what?" He asked, wanting her to let go of his sweaty gloved hand.

"Been on a date to the library! It's… Different…" Terra laughed.

Thankfully they arrived at the library doors before Terra could continue the conversation.

Eagerly, Beast Boy dropped Terra's hand to open the door, he let her walk in first.

Terra seen it as a kind act as her boyfriend, Beast Boy done it simply out of decency.

Once inside the building, Beast Boy headed for a bookshelf, not exactly sure what he was looking for.

"Beast Boy, do you not want to come have a look at the comics?" Terra asked, pointing to the opposite side of the room where the comic books were stacked. There were also sofas and a vending machine where the comics were, had he been back in his own reality, Beast Boy would've ran straight to that section. Although, it was unlikely that he would ever be in the library in the first place.

"eh… No I'm going to go find that book I was er…. Wanting to find…" Beast Boy stammered.

Terra gave him a worried a cd but shrugged,

"Kay then, catch you soon"

Beast Boy watched as she trudged to the comic book section and then he went about finding anything he could on this Dark Prince.

After an hour, Beast Boy was ready to fall asleep. He was surrounded by thick books, his head resting on the table, his eyes looking sideways at the fine text of the useless book he was reading. He was ready to give up.

No, no he was not. He had to get back to his normality, and to do so he had to understand exactly who he was up against.

But it was hopeless.

"Woah, BB, never thought I'd see you with so many books! Watch'a reading?" Terra's voice said, in a loud quiet way.

Beast Boy rubbed the back of his head,

"Heh, well there is a first for everything"

Beast Boy sat up, looking back down at the book in front of him.

Terra put her arms around Beast Boy's neck from behind, her fingers rubbing at his chest.

Beast Boy's face flushed.

"How about we ditch this place?" She said close to his ear, almost seductively.

Had it been years ago, Beast Boy would have loved every second of this.

He no longer harboured any feelings for Terra, he had gotten over her.

Beast Boy did not say anything, pretending he was engrossed in the text in front of him.

"What you reading?" Terra asked, pulling the book from his view and reading over it herself.

"You won't get it" Beast Boy said defensively, standing up and trying to take it from her grasp.

Terra frowned at what she was reading, she couldn't even understand the advanced language on the pages. Still, she stopped Beast Boy from taking it from her,

"What is this? Beast Boy why are you reading this… This...?" She couldn't find the word to describe what she was reading.

"I told you you wouldn't get it!" Beast Boy snapped.

Terra abruptly closed the book, he had sounded so mad at her. Biting on her lip, she frowned,

"You know what BB, take it" she shoved the book hard into his chest,

"I don't know what's up with you today, but you're acting really weird. Once you remember who you really are- and start acting like your of self again- then come find me!" Her voice rose.

Angry glares from students studying in the library were shot at her.

Beast Boy was speechless at her outburst. He clutched the book at his chest, not sure how he should be acting.

"I'm gonna go now Beast Boy, don't follow me" Terra said walking away from the changeling.

Finally, he thought to himself but then immediately regretted it. He had to remember that the Beast Boy from this world which he was impersonating was in a relationship with Terra, and he really didn't want to screw things up for him.

Sighing, Beast Boy broke into a jog to catch up to Terra, but suddenly stopped in his tracks when he caught sight of someone.

Terra had heard Beast Boy come after her, and she hid her smile as she left the building, waiting for him to follow and then grovel at her feet for forgiveness. She would be disappointed.

Still inside the library, Beast Boy dropped the book he had been holding, it fell to the ground creating a loud thud.

The girl who had caused his loss of grip turned when she heard the noise.

He had been right, it was her. Her hair was longer than normal, falling just past her shoulders, she was wearing dark jeans and a black hoodie. The only thing missing from her was her birthmark that was usually noticeable on her forehead. But she was still her, Raven.

Now the question was, was it his Raven, or this dimension's?

This dimension's Raven was gone, he reminded himself.

That means this is my Raven, he thought excitedly, she's here! She found a way to find me!

She approached him cautiously, only there to do her job. She bent down to pick his book up and handed it to him.

"Are you wanting to take this book out sir?" She asked.

"Erm what?" Beast Boy asked, wide eyed.

"This book? Would you like to take it out? Do you have a library card?"

"Uh, Earth to Raven, you don't have to keep whatever cover you're trying to keep around me" Beast Boy waved his hands up and down.

Looking unamused, as she always did, she pulled the book back from him,

"If you're not taking this book out then I'm going to have to put it back" Raven said walking away from the bewildered changeling. She hadn't recognised him!

Beast Boy was about to try to speak to her again, but a loud bang sounded from outside and in a second a man wearing a balaclava and dressed fully in black burst through the doors, a huge briefcase in his hand. Another two men soon joined him. The main man pulled out a gun and shot it three times in the air,

"Everybody get on the ground!" He shouted, everyone complied apart from Raven and Beast Boy.

Beast Boy got ready to morph, looking to Raven for her nod of approval, but she looked properly helpless.

That wasn't the Raven he knew.

She tried to approach the gunman, being the only one who worked there and feeling it her responsibility to at least try and get them to stand down.

She didn't even have the chance to say anything, another gun shot sounded, Raven instantly went down on her knees.

Beast Boy still stood, the gunman pointed his gun at him,

"Get down now!" He shouted.

His two accomplices were peering out of the glass doors, seeing the police cars outside.

"I'm not going to tell you again, get down on the ground!"

Beast Boy shook his head,

"Dude, there's no way I'm going to do that" he crossed his arms although his heart was beating loudly in his chest. This was the first time he had faced a criminal without some crazy persona. These guys were the type you would see in a heist movie.

On of the men recognised him,

"Aw shit, you're one of those Teen Titans aren't you?"

Beast Boy nodded,

"And I suggest that you put the gun down"

"Or what?" The gunman sneered, "I don't see any of your hero friends around here. It's three against one, three guns, one animal"

He had a point, but Raven on the other hand. Beast Boy looked at her again, she was looking at the floor, her hands on her head like everyone else. He should've tried to attack them, disarm them at least, but the odds were against him.

Beast Boy went to his knees.

"Good boy." The gunman said, "now you are all our hostages, we are going to get out of here with this money we got from that bank, or you all die, got it?"

Beast Boy fought the urge to morph into a tiger for the safety of everyone else.

Beside him Raven let out a shallow breath, he knew she was scared.