The Raben Project
By
Agent X
The Cautious
A/N: So… it's been only *checks notes* six years since the last update. I'll have you know, I promise nothing. I would love to say I am reviving this for good, but I can't commit to it. All I can say is that this is something I want to finish, but don't expect anything - we'll see how it goes.
Moment: Episode 26 (Aftershock II) - The Teen Titans look upon the petrified remains of Terra.
In a dusty, rocky cavern under Jump City, there is a statue of a girl.
The Titans stand before it, and Raven can feel how single-minded the Team is about this person: they think she was a good person, a good friend, because she sacrificed herself for them.
Raven is not so sure. Terra was known for running away from her problems. She wonders if this self-sacrifice wasn't just another way of escaping from the world and her own actions. Especially as Raven can still sense the dormant soul tethered to this statue.
But she keeps these thoughts to herself. Instead, she tells them, "We'll be searching for a way to reverse the effect."
"We'll bring her back." Robin adds.
Raven watches the Titans lay the flowers and plaque at the statue of their fallen foe and tries to feel as empty as she can. Tries not to feel alienated from her family because, unlike them, she can't seem to let go of the bitterness that Terra stirred up, and the feeling that this is more than she deserves.
She takes a deep breath; pushes it down. She knows this whole thing is more for the Titans' benefit than for Terra, anyway. Yet, somehow the feeling remains.
When they turn to leave, Raven stops before the exit. She glances back, trying to suppress this sense of dissatisfaction. She hears the scuff of footsteps next to her, and turns to see Robin watching her, waiting a few steps away.
Out of the Titans, the two of them were always the most cautious about Terra. She doesn't know how he feels now. He has always been the hardest to read, unlike the others who never try to shield their emotions.
She realises she wants to know.
"Would you let her back in?" she asks in the most casual, uninterested tone that she can effect.
Robin blinks, glances at the statue, and answers honestly, "I don't know."
Raven's distracted by her disappointment when he turns to her and asks, "Would you?"
"No," She answers before she can stop herself. Then she hesitates for a moment. Without looking at him, she asks "Does that make me bad?"
"No," There is a little bit of lightness in his voice as he explains, "It makes you human."
Human.
It thrums through her, and both Happy and Sad stir in response. Raven hurriedly brings her hood up over her head. "I'm going to mediate. I'll see you at the Tower."
Robin has always respected Raven's need for privacy. Although he is unsure of the reason for her abrupt departure, he watches her sink into the floor, and lets her go.
I took some creative liberties with this one. Robin and Raven are the ones who talk about bringing Terra back, but they are also the ones who would least want to. My read is that they would do it for the benefit of the team rather than for Terra.
And of course, it's easy to give someone who betrayed you honorary status as a Teen Titan when they are technically dead. I suspect it would be a lot more emotionally complicated for everyone if this wasn't the case.
So we ended up with this slightly morose end to the season. But Raven and Robin at least bonded over their mutual distrust of Terra - so we have that going for us, which is nice.
I want to say thank you to everyone who has commented over the years (especially Hattie - thank you). It might not seem like it, but every comment fuels me and has contributed to this next chapter. Although you deserve it, and I wish I could promise it, I don't want to get your hopes up and say I am committed to rekindling the story. However, neither am I discontinuing it.
We shall progress in this limbo together.