So it has been approximately 800 years since I've updated and many of you have probably already died from old age. I am so sorry. It took forever to figure out what I wanted to happen in this chapter. I must've written five different scenarios. Anyways, if you're still reading this story, thank you so much. I hope you are enjoying it.
Much love,
BBS
How did it feel when it came alive and took you?
Out of the black
It broke your skin and shook through
Every part of me, every part of you
"Out of the Black" -Royal Blood
Despite Robin's protests, she trained with the team the next day. She was a little more out of breath than what she was used to during their run and when Starfire lapped her, she threw her a worried glance which was returned with a breathless reassurance.
Cyborg slowed down and jogged beside her
"Seriously Rae, stop if you need to stop."
"I can do this."
His large metal hand grabbed her shoulder and they stopped. Raven felt his worry and looked up into his furrowed brow
"We know you can, but should you really be pushing yourself like this?"
She put her hands on her hips as she caught her breath and looked away, across the ocean and towards Jump City's skyline.
"I just want to feel like everything is normal. As normal as it can be for us, I mean."
Raven desperately wanted to feel the way she felt before the Seraph came into her life and before she was marked for good. She wanted to feel safe and in control again. She didn't want the knowledge that every second she spent on Earth, just meant that she was dying and she especially didn't want her friends knowing it.
Cyborg nodded and tapped her shoulder for them to continue running,
"Just don't push yourself too hard, ok?"
"Yeah I promise."
He jogged ahead of her and she waited until he disappeared from her sight before collapsing on the ground, her breathing labored. She was never a fan of the island runs in the first place, but this sucked way more than usual. Her communicator beeped and she sighed with relief. It was over. She stood up and wiped the sand off of her legs, debating whether or not to use her energy on phasing to the training room.
Deciding on the latter, she slowly made her way to the training room, grateful for the invention of elevators. After changing into her uniform, she entered the code into the keypad, composing herself before she stepped in.
Robin and Beast Boy stood by the training simulation watching Starfire fighting a holographic Cinderblock. She stood by Robin, willing herself not to show the exhaustion that tugged at her muscles and bones.
"How are you feeling?"
"You know how much I hate island runs."
He snorted, turning back towards the glass to watch Starfire. He handed Raven the water bottle from his hand and she took a swig after a final blow from Starfire sent Cinderblock crumbling to the ground in pieces. She gave them a triumphant smile and Raven smiled back, the alien's happiness contagious.
Robin spoke into the intercom, "Great job, Star! That was your best time yet."
Raven looked around the room,
"Where's Cyborg?"
"Right here and I have a guest."
The team turned to see Cyborg leading Wolff into the room. Raven's stomach turned and she felt a brush of anger. She bit her tongue as they all shook his hand. Robin gave her a look and she rolled her eyes.
"I came here to check in on how you all were doing. I saw that the Archer stole a million dollar piece of equipment and got away from the Titans again…"
Raven felt Robin's anger like a burst of heat despite the calm look on his face. She couldn't help but feel a little smug that finally someone saw how much of an asshole this guy was
"I can assure you, we are doing everything we can. But we can't do anything at the expense of a Titan's life."
Wolff nodded solemnly, eyes flickering to Raven's before looking back at the Titan's leader,
"I understand. Raven, I must thank you for risking your life saving my company the expense of an explosion. It could've cost upwards of a billion dollars."
Raven crossed her arms
"I didn't do it to save your building. I did it to save my team."
"Regardless, I'm willing to forget our disagreement the other day if you are. No hard feelings?"
He held out his hand and she could feel Robin prodding her through their Bond.
You really don't need any more enemies
Raven bit her tongue harder and grabbed his hand, feeling that at any moment her inner demon could lash out and tear him into ribbons of flesh.
He squeezed her hand unnecessarily hard and she squeezed back
No hard feelings, my ass.
When their hands released, the tension in the room decreased and Raven wondered if their entire relationship with this man would be him and her going at each other's throats and then later shaking hands. She really wished he would just shoot her an email like a normal businessman,
"Well I also came here to invite you all to dinner at my place this evening."
The Titans looked expectantly towards their leader. Robin glanced over at Raven and she shrugged. Free dinner sounded nice and maybe she could find out more about the unsettling James Wolff, being in his home.
Robin reached out a hand and smiled
"We would love to. Thank you."
Wolff grabbed his hand with a smile and shook. Raven doubted he gave Robin the same threatening squeeze he gave her. Damn Boy Blunder for being so good with people all the damn time.
"Perfect! I'll email you the details. See you all tonight!"
After saying their goodbyes, Cyborg walked him out and Beast Boy gave a low whistle,
"Holy shit, the sexual tension between you and Wolff is incredible, Rae Rae."
Robin and Raven exchanged a look and he gave her a nod
"…Okay Beast Boy, your turn. I'll run the control panel."
The changeling scratched the back of his head, backing away from the arena's glass doors
"No Rae, that's quite alright. I think Cyborg here is more than capable of doing it."
"No, no, no, I insist."
Beast Boy looked pleadingly at the robotic man who then stepped away from the control panel.
"Sorry BB. You brought it upon yourself."
Raven flashed him a grin before pressing the button to open glass doors,
"Go on"
"Fuck."
"The T-car is leaving in 5 minutes! If you are not ready by then, you'll have to find your own way there!"
Cyborg stood impatiently in the living room and Raven didn't look up from her book,
"Oh no they'll have to fly…which they can do… very easily."
Robin laughed and she sent him a small smile after Cyborg hit her with a couch pillow
This felt normal. Like what it used to feel like before shit hit the fan. Her smile fell from her face and she looked back down at her book's pages.
"Alright alright chill out, bro. I'm ready."
Beast Boy and Starfire entered the room and they all headed towards the garage where they all climbed into the T-car. As the garage door opened and the sun began to disappear behind the city's skyline, Raven hoped that the night would go very smoothly and very quickly.
They pulled up to the insanely tall building and were approached by a valet,
"I'd be more than happy to pull your car around for you, sir."
"No offense, kid. But I'd be more comfortable with me just taking it where it needs to go."
The valet gave him a tight smile
"Of course. Just pull around and take a left into the parking garage. There are spaces reserved for Mr. Wolff's guests."
They pulled away and into the garage filled with expensive cars. They had to practically drag Cyborg away from vehicles and into the elevator. Raven crossed her arms and leaned against the back wall while Robin pressed the button for the top floor. Raven knew he was on high alert, his tension becoming her own.
The elevator door opened to a long hallway with a door at the very end. Robin rang the doorbell and glanced at Raven when the door opened, revealing a maid who ushered them inside where Mr. Wolff stood waiting.
Of course the man couldn't answer his own door even though he was standing right fucking there…
They stepped in and Starfire broke the ice,
"Your home is beautiful."
Raven had to agree. She half-expected the place to be decorated with a modern-minimalist look, to be uncomfortable and distant. But it was warm and inviting. The dark brown leather couch looked like you'd melt into it and the lit fireplace was perfect for the cooler days as they approached.
Wolff looked at his feet, humbly
"Thank you very much. I guess I see investing in one's house to make a home, worth every penny."
It really was a very likable thing to say and even Raven found herself raising her eyebrow at his answer.
"Please come eat. You all must be starving."
They sat down to bowls of soup and Raven caught eyes with a stuffed bear. She nudged Beast Boy next to her and nodded towards the animal bust, her voice lowered to a whisper
"Did you two know each other?"
Beast Boy stopped mid bite, both amused and offended,
"That's dark, Rae"
She gave his knee a pat and took a bite of her own soup, almost moaning into her spoon. It was fantastic. Her palate was all too used to pizza and Chinese take-out and for that bite, it didn't matter that she didn't get along with Wolff.
Wolff took a bite of his own and spoke,
"I have to ask and don't feel pressured to answer: how did the five of you come together?"
Raven stiffened and looked across the table at Robin who set down his spoon
"Well long story short. Cyborg, Beast Boy and I met through mutual friends in the Justice League, I guess you could say. Starfire came to Earth on a mission of her own and joined up with us later,"
Starfire gave a small smile and then looked down at her bowl. The other Titan's knew that that part of her life was a very painful for her. Raven discreetly grabbed Starfire's hand under the table and squeezed, pushing feelings of peace and happiness towards her friend. The beautiful alien squeezed back gratefully.
"And then it took some effort to get Raven on the team. She was doing some solo work at the time but we finally got her."
Raven and Robin exchanged a smile before taking another bite of soup. It had been the best decision of her life.
After more talk and giving more detail to the story in response to the billionaire's questions, the soup and salad were finally replaced by the main course of seafood, steamed rice, and an assortment of vegetables. And if she were allowed in, Raven knew this is what Heaven would be like.
Cyborg and Wolff laughed over some joke she didn't hear and Beast Boy gave her a nudge, motioning towards his nose. It only took a moment for her to realize what he was referring to and she wiped the blood from her nose and stood up from the table.
"I…uh…have a meeting with someone at the university. Side project. Thank you very much for dinner."
She watched as something flashed in Wolff's eyes, his curiosity and suspicion peaked. She could tell he didn't buy her story and it set her on edge. Here she thought she was a good liar. His expression slipped into false concern, but if she hadn't been an empath she would've never known
"You're very welcome but is it a good idea to be out by yourself when there's someone out there targeting superheroes?"
"Thank you for your concern, but it is unnecessary" she glanced at Robin and he stood up and walked towards her,
"Raven can take care of herself. I'll walk you out, Rae."
He placed a hand on her lower back and led her towards the door. The warm colors of the room blurred together and she tasted blood as it rolled onto her lips.
Robin walked her out to the hallway, closing the door behind them for privacy. Raven pressed her forehead to the wall and closed her eyes,
"Dammit. I'm gonna miss dessert."
He turned her around, holding her face in his hands, feeling the fever on his palms. She opened her eyes and gave him a weak smile but he held his frown,
"Yeah no way in Hell you're leaving alone like this."
"It would look suspicious if you up and left too, Boy Wonder."
"How to you plan on making it back to the Tower, huh? Grabbing the 9 bus? Oh my God, you were actually considering it, weren't you?"
She grabbed his hands and lowered them from her face, missing their touch
"Relax, Boy Blunder. I'm just going to lay down in the car until you're finished up here."
He considered her for a moment and then nodded,
"Alright, fine. But text me when you get to the car and lock the doors, okay?"
She gave a small laugh at his overprotectiveness and squeezed his hands before releasing and pressing the elevator door.
"Okay, okay. But you have to bring me some of whatever dessert you guys are having."
Finally, Robin smiled,
"Whatever you want."
She got into the elevator and gave him a wink,
"That's what I like to hear."
When the doors closed, she slid to the ground and grasped her head. The lights began to flicker and Raven groaned in annoyance, pulling her knees into her chest and burying her head into her arms, willing the massive headache to go away. The cool seats of the T-car were calling her name. Elevator jerked violently came to an abrupt stop, knocking Raven from her position and covering her in darkness. The door dinged and opened, revealing a short, dark hallway. She stood up unsteady and turned the flashlight function of her communicator on.
She was apparently stuck on floor 3.
She stepped out of the elevator and guided herself to the staircase door. When she set her hand on the handle, the apartment door creaked open. She froze, her heart beating wildly. Slowly, she turned to the cracked door just as a long hand curled over the edge,
"Raaaaaveeeeeen,"
A spasm of fear hit her and she tried to yank the door open, but it wouldn't budge. A scream tore through her when her legs went out from under her and she was dragged across the floor and into the pitch black crack in the doorway.
Once she was in the room, she was released and the door was shut behind her. Her heart beat loudly in her ears as she held up a shield in defense. Raven could see nothing but blackness,
"Who's there?"
Suddenly, two pairs of red eyes lit up in front of her and she jumped back into the wall. They got closer and she could feel the heat radiating off of the thing. It reeked of brimstone and Sulphur and she heard it lick it lips hungrily, its breathing increasing.
"What the others said is true. The human part of you is rotting, dear Raven. I can smell it."
Number 3
"You're Three."
"Your voice isn't as near as nice as your scream. But yes."
It stepped away from her and she felt her Terror as she heard it dragging its large body across the ground.
She remained pressed against the wall, her shield still up and sweat pouring down her skin,
"Give me your message."
"You're afraid of me."
Raven paused
"Well you haven't given me a reason to not be afraid of you."
The red eyes blinked back at her
"That instinctual fear that's sitting in you right now as we speak, is what your friends feel every day around you."
She shook her head,
"That's not true. They know me. They know that…"
Suddenly the eyes were right in front of her and its hot breath breathed in her face, almost making her gag
"Nothing will take away the human instinct to fear what is dangerous to them and that's you. I am not a threat to you, Raven. I wouldn't hurt you, but that is not what your gut is telling you, is it?"
Raven felt the hot tears burn her eyes. The conversation reminding her of the one she had with Slade only months ago
"Go to Hell."
Three slunk away from her into the corner of the room
"Tick tock. See you soon."
The red eyes disappeared and she could feel the air return to the room, the smell of brimstone gone. Her hand shook as she reached the door and turned the knob.
Raven descended the stairs quickly and burst through the door into the garage, immediately running into someone and their hand covering her mouth before she could let out a scream
"Whoa. It's just me sunshine."
The hand dropped from her mouth then Raven looked into his curious face. When she didn't reply with sarcasm or hostility, concern furrowed his brow and his hands gripped her upper arms and gave her a shake,
"Are you okay?"
She stepped away from his grip, running a shaky hand through her hair,
"I'm…"
"Don't say you're fine."
"I'm good."
He stared at her with consideration before pulling a tissue out of his pocket and handing it to her,
"You're bleeding again."
Raven grabbed it and held it to her nose, the tissue muffling her thanks
"Are you going to tell me what's going on? Because I feel like this isn't just seasonal allergies."
It only took her a moment to make her decision. Grabbing him by the hand, she led him to the T-car. She pointed to the passenger door,
"Get in."
He did so without question and Raven slid into the driver's seat, closing the door.
"Remember our talk about trust?"
"Of course, Raven."
"Well here is me trusting you."
She told him everything about the Seraph, the Mark, the Seven, and her sickness, carefully watching his reactions, but he just nodded as she spilled. Finally she was silent and he ran hands down his face
"Holy shit, sunshine. Holy fucking shit."
"Yeah it's been an eventful year."
"You are the most badass of all badasses. You killed a Goddamn angel."
"Technically I'm a Goddamned angel. And to be fair, that angel sorta killed me first."
Jason looked at her carefully and then shook his head,
"Holy shit."
She looked down at her hands, the fear pulling her under its weight
"Now I'll die if..."
"Hey,"
He grabbed her hands and she looked up, his eyes earnest
"We are going to figure this out, okay?"
She gave him a small smile and he let go of her hands, the smug smile on his face once more
"Besides a master thief has endless resources to use. You made the right friend, sunshine."
Raven rolled her eyes, but was grateful to be relieved from the cloud of sadness that had filled the car.
"What were you doing here anyway, Jason?"
"Meeting with a client."
When she shot him a look, he continued, "Not our guy. Just a bored millionaire."
"Any update on our guy?"
"Nope. Still waiting to hear from him."
Raven nodded and motioned to the door, "Alright. Well you better get out of here before my team gets back. Cyborg would shit his pants if I let a stranger into his baby."
Jason laughed and they stepped out of the car,
"Jason?"
He walked around the car and stood in front of her
"Sunshine?"
"Thank you for everything. I didn't mean to drag you into this."
His handsome grin returned,
"I'd let you drag me into anything."
She rolled her eyes and she opened the door to the backseat when she heard Jason speak again
"Just out of curiosity. I couldn't get it out of my head. What would happen if an angel killed an angel or a demon killed a demon?"
Raven thought back to her books,
"The angel that killed would be sent to Hell. And I'm…not sure what would have to a demon who killed another demon."
He nodded and walked away,
"Sounds reasonable."
She slid into the backseat and picked up her com sending a text to Robin
Raven: alive and…well I'm alive
Robin: took you a while…
Raven: can't say I was sprinting my darndest
Robin: -_-
She set down her phone, feeling like the meeting with Three happened long ago
And what would happen if a demon killed another demon?