11.

Raven was having a very long conversation in her head.

She decided to pay a visit to Nevermore, and it's been quite a while. Entering adulthood, she didn't have a need to separate her emotions to keep them in control. Happiness ran with all her might to squeeze her, crying joyfully to see her. Bravery ran all the way to Happiness's domain to greet her.

"Alright! Let's assemble the others! No one can beat us now!"

"Yay! All the Ravens back together in Nevermore again!"

Raven immediately started to regret her decision. Happiness looked at her with a playful look.

"Hey! What do you mean you're not making a lot of good decisions lately? No way!"

She giggled heartily. It was so full of joy and life, it rivaled Starfire's laughter.

In no time her core emotions came to her. Raven looked around. Knowledge answered the unasked question.

"Lazy and Sloth Ravens aren't here. Well, they are too.."

She didn't say the word.

"Doesn't make a difference. Rage is sulking in the shadows. Happy overpowered her for once."

She added something that sounded like 'that's a first in the past few weeks.' Raven nodded at Knowledge. She still couldn't say anything, and the intellectual part of her knew.

"It's about Richard, isn't it?"

Happiness giggled at his name.

"Something must be done. What do you suggest I do?"

Bravery was the first to answer.

"Go corner him and kiss the hell out of him!"

Raven in purple smiled sneakily and nodded.

"I like that plan."

Bravery frowned back at Raven's frown.

"I mean, why not? Who knows, he might remember something."

"He might not remember what happened, but he might remember the way we kissed, the way he made you sigh, the way you were in -"

"Enough," Raven ruled it out. Lust snapped her eyes away, clearly not happy.

"There must be a way. Maybe in some other books of ancient art, I might be able to.." Raven faltered. The looks of her emoticlons resembled each other for once.

"Raven. We read two hundred and eighty-one books on magic with magic, and you already know there's nothing we can do."

"Unless we can resonate so I can check his soul and restore the memories.."

Raven had that desperate look of hope in her eyes. Knowledge had to admit, Raven was indeed the wearer of blue.

"He broke the bond, Raven. It's impaired and damaged. You can't reform the bond alone. You know he shut it down on his side. And he won't let you in, not anymore."

It was painful to say and painful to hear. Indeed, it was true. The day he woke up, Raven tended to him through their bond. It was Cyborg who asked her to check him through her soul-self. When the bond started to resonate, Richard broke the connection. Completely. She tried again, but he didn't even feel her attempt. She was never able to reach to him again. It was so strange as if a big part of her were cut off. Everyone fell silent. Rage was the only one making growling noises.

"Raven?"

A small and scared voice broke the silence. Timid Raven was in tears.

"Raven, I know I shouldn't say this.. but please.. don't.. don't give up on him."

Timidity was usually the first to give up - if you don't count Laziness and Sloth. Bravery's eyes widened, then she ran to give her a hug.

"That's the spirit!"

Happy came to Raven and held her hands.

"Remember that day, Raven? Remember what he said?"

Of all the precious days with Richard, she knew exactly which day Happiness was referring to. She sighed.

"He said that I was the most hopeful person he has ever seen."

Happiness smiled softly. Raven sighed a little, but she felt a little better.

"Well, I guess I'll have to ask him out again."

The whole crowd cheered. Happiness squeezed her again.

"To the ball! The dance thing at the city hall event!"

"Alright.. I already tried seven times. The eighth is not going to kill me.."

She looked at her emoticlones one at a time as she prepared to go back to reality. Her heart filled up with warm hope. Her eyes rested on Rage. And something about the way it smiled told her, that it had other plans in mind.