Disclaimer- Teen Titans and all other related characters and material are
the property of DC comics and Cartoon Network. I do not own them, nor do I
claim such ownership. All new material is of my own creation.
Chapter 2: Regret and Circumstance By: Ansa
For once the tower was silent, no video games, no rowdy games, no TV, just silence. The sun had been up for several hours, the minute hand on the clock passed its peek countless times in the hours in which the occupants were awake. Beast Boy made his way down the hall curious as to the lack of noise. The night before had made him more happy then he could ever remember, the party had been a disaster, the damage seemed irreparable, that is until he saw the look on her face when she clutched the large text in her hands, glancing with fascination to each page. Raven had actually smiled at him, not at him and Cyborg, not at the entire gang, but just him. He had made her happy, and that was the only thing he had ever wanted to do.
As the corridor opened up to the much larger living room, Beast Boy leaned on the corner of the wall, taking in each inch of the room searching for someone else besides himself. Propped on the couch sat Raven, deep into her reading of the dusty hardback given to her the night before, her hood lowered so that her hair and eyes were quite recognizable. Aside from this, there was not another soul to be found, five o-clock in the afternoon and not one other titan could be found to fill the silence that was both soothing and unsettling at the same time.
"Hey, where is everyone? Did Starfire try to cook dinner again?" Beast Boy made his way into the living room, still searching in each direction for signs of movement, placing himself behind the couch just next to where Raven sat, leaning against the top edge.
"I don't know." Raven didn't even look up from her read, her eyes never leaving the ancient text that took some time to decipher the first time she picked it up. Personally, the silence was a blessing, now she could come out of her room and study if she wanted to. But strangely, she also felt alone, for the first time she actually felt that she would be more at ease with the rest of the group banging around making such a racket that she was forced into her room. Even though it annoyed her, it felt homier that way, as if she never had to be anyone else but herself.
"Enjoying the book?" Suddenly Beast Boy's voice once again broke the silence, as well as her concentration, almost making her jump from the sudden brake in calm. And to her absolute shock, her cheeks flushed a soft pink knowing that he was that close to her. This was completely new for her; never before had she strayed so far from her melon coli disposition. Her mind raced to find an excuse for this, her heart pounded, praying he hadn't noticed her.
"Uh.yes." Quickly she inquired him, desperately trying to get her act back together. "But, I'd like to know, where did you get this?"
"Oh, right downtown, its not to far from the pizza shop actually, I could take you if you want." This time, it was BB turn to blush, even through his dark green skin one could see that the concept of taking Raven out to town alone seemed suggestive and embarrassed him for even bringing it up. Then the two pages in which the book was pry open to meet with a soft clap and the back cover gently set upon the cushion next to her.
"OK." Fortunately for him, Raven saw nothing of the proposition aside from the friendly gesture of one of her comrades. Even as she stood up, Raven fought back the sudden loss of control that had almost gotten her into an awkward situation. BB was taken aback; at first not realizing that she accepted, and then that she didn't find the question at all suggestive to anything between them. He was relieved, and yet, at the same time he was a little disappointed. Raven was like no one else he had ever met before in her life, and for some reason, he wanted her to be a part of it.
The subway was eerily empty that day, especially for its location, usually one could count on several people parading in their faces shielded by the mornings newspaper, briefcases hanging to their side and dark business suits clutching to their bodies. Today however, the entire car had a combined occupants of three, Raven, Beast Boy, and lonely old man riding the subway all around the city as a change of pace in his dull life. As they sat the familiar feeling of the cold and stiff surface beneath them shot through their bodies. The second her back rested in place, Raven's book was once again open and her eyes glided across the pages, picking out various spells and examining their effect very carefully. Beast Boy on the other hand, felt less at ease, instead his entire body went stiff, just as the "seats" in which they propped themselves in. The familiar beeps and hisses sounded and the doors shut as the train began to slowly lurch forward, giving a slight jerk as it went, only adding more uneasiness to Beast Boys temperament at the time. His mind raced as the car went dim, the overhead lights providing very little to see, apparently many bulbs needed replacing and not enough light was allowed for Raven to continue in her fascination and thus once again the book snapped shut and she let it rest upon her lap. The gentle rocking of the train slowly calmed his nerves and BB was able to relax, let his body free from its rigid state and exhale for the first time since they entered the confining module. BB looked up and out to the opposite side of the car and watched as periodic panels of light passed by, breaking only for more darkness. This systematic pulsing seemed to make a rhythm, reminding him of the many strobeing lights and throbbing sounds of the many nightclubs and rave parties he had attended. To him, the music had an a deep effect on his movements and actions, as if a sirens song the synthetic sound and bass lines seemed to posses his body, forcing it to contort in ways it never had before. He could look back to each and every party and not think of any two songs that made him dance in the same exact way. Each tone was different, different pulses, different processional beats, not one was the identity of another played before it. Each one he could still picture in his mind as clear as the lights flashed before him now, Cyborg would be grooving next to him, Robin and Starfire would be either trying to dance or sitting at the table chatting and Raven.Raven was always alone, no matter if she stayed at home or even if she came, she almost never seemed to be with anyone else. This thought sent a cold wave of regret down his body. He realized that he had never really tried to get her to dance, maybe he asked once or twice, but he never really tried. He had always shrugged it off and had his own way, not once thinking of leaving the dance floor and joining her, if not to just give her someone to stand and look on with. Perhaps they might have talked, perhaps not, but at least she wouldn't have been alone. BB tried to shake this cold chill down his back, they still had at least fifteen minutes until the train came to their stop, plus each stop before it was bound to take at least another minute or so to start going again even if no one else got on. The last thing he needed was to be aching over this for the rest of the ride, whatever he felt before would have no comparison to this sort of brooding. The rocking of the car as it made its way down the tracks became even more soothing than before, giving the illusion of the comfort of being at home in your own bed, or in your favorite hammock at your cabin in the country. BB closed his eyes and smiled, enjoying the swaying and coasting, it almost felt as if they were riding on air. The sound also became soothing, almost the equivalent of the soft patter of rain against window sills on the weekend, the kind of rain that had little clouds, still allowing the sun to grant a low glow illuminating the drops that formed on the glass. He felt warm, he felt safe, he felt happy. Then the swaying started to slow and dissipate as the train neared the next station, not their stop, but someone's for sure. BB watched as the lights began to glow brighter and eventually the entire light of the station poured in. A low hum followed by a slight screech sounded as the car came to a stop and the doors open letting only the old man out and the slightly cooler air in. As the doors closed once again, BB turned his head to look at his companion. "Guess we're the only ones out today." But to his surprise, the only response he received was Ravens slumbering head resting upon his left shoulder, a soft rhythm of breathing coming out her nose and lifting and lowering her chest. In seeing this, BB smiled, closed his eyes and let his head rest upon the window behind him as the gentle rocking that had eased Raven to sleep, let him drift into peaceful oblivion.
"So this is it?" Raven looked up to the hanging sign just above the dark and dusty store window written in a very distinct font. The door was old and had been painted over several times, the many shades of brown and grey bled through as to make a completely new color. "Yep, this is it alright, 'The Black Orb.'" Beast Boy stood not too far behind her, his hands resting on his hips and looking up in the same direction as her, quite proud of himself for being able to remember where it actually was. Raven stood there in the same fascination as she appeared when reading on the old text she now held at her side. As she made her way to the door, her hand already grasping the handle, she turned to see Beast Boy peering into the shop window next door, hands in pockets. "I'll only be a few minutes." Beast Boy turned suddenly, snapped out of his concentration on the object behind the glass. "Huh? Oh, ok, I'll meet up with you out here then." With that he turned and made his way inside, the soft jingle of the hanging bell signaling his disappearance into the store. And although she was quite fine on her own, for some reason she could not explain in her person, she felt a slight twinge of regret that he would not be joining her. Quickly she shook her head, once again trying to control these new and uncontainable thoughts and emotions, letting them drift away in her mind as she passed through the door frame, letting it shut behind her. Inside the smell of incense and mothballs intertwined to form this strange scent that both eased her mind and made her flinch at the first sniff of it. All along the walls stood bookcases filled with dusty old texts like the one she held under her arm at this very moment. Tapestries and decorative material of all age and origin patterned the spaces in which no more book shelves could be placed. In the middle of the room sat several tables with numerous fixings and trinkets, many fashioned in copper or gold. In the middle of the building, jutting out the east wall was the register on a bench forming out of the floor and all around the old woman that could be seen arranging small vials of a strange liquid behind her seat. It seemed that the sound of the door opening did not sway her actions any and this gave Raven comfort, knowing that she would not be hustled to buy anything she did not want. Slowly she canvassed the entire store, thumbing through the old books, carefully examining the tiny trinkets, and posing behind the many clerical robes in the rear part of the store. Her mind was filled with such curiosity, such fascination she almost didn't notice the old women approaching her as she propped up a long black robe made of fine silk. "Ah, your mind is filled with much wonder young one. Might I inquire into what you seek?" "Only knowledge." Raven was taken back a bit by the old woman's sudden appearance behind her, slowly gaining back her nerves before gently folding the robe back up and placing it on its rack. "Ah, Knowledge, knowledge is a good thing to seek. But one must know oneself before they might fully seek the knowledge they require." Her words were eerily close to being specific. Raven turned to look, only to see that she had disappeared behind her little bench and motioned for her come near. As Raven made her way over, the old women bent down under her line of sight and came back up with something wrapped in an old cloth. The old women held it out in both hands offering it to the young girl in the dark garbs. Reluctantly, Raven took it from her hands, cautiously peeling back the cloth to find an old hand mirror, beautifully designed and crafted in silver from the looks of it; the glass of the mirror grew brown lines around the corner rims from its old age. This disappointed her, an enchanted mirror was not new to her, in fact she had one in her room in which she used for meditation. The old woman's mysterious presence had dulled her senses and had gotten her hopes up for something fantastic. Instead, all she had received was an ordinary enchanted mirror. "A spell mirror, I have one of these. I'm sorry but it isn't anything I haven't seen before." Raven slowly placed the mirror face down on the bench and was about to walk away when the old woman called to her. "It is not enchanted," Raven looked at her with intrigue, "It is a regular, ever day, common mirror." Her words confused Raven, and yet, she knew there was some greater meaning behind it. "I get this feeling from you, that you spend your entire time seeking knowledge that you have lost all meaning as to who you are, and where your true desires lie." Raven was struck, the words still lingering in her mind, ringing in her ears, and sinking in deep where she had tried to bury these strange new emotions she had begun to feel. Then, she went to pick up the mirror again, and this time when she looked into it, she did not see its magic or its spells, instead, she saw herself, or rather two eyes and a mouth peering out from under a dark blue hood. With her eyes still fixed on the mirror she lifted her free hand and pulled back her robe so that she might see herself in the looking glass for the first time in so long. All the mirrors she had peered into only showed a hood with white eyes peering out, if that, finally, she was able to see herself for who she was. Then, her eyes moved to the edge of the glass and the strange pink flush appeared again as she saw Beast Boy reflecting back. Quickly she set the mirror down and turned to see him waiting outside the store window, peering across the street as something. "Do you see?" Once again, a feeling a cold swept over her and her mind was set adrift, not knowing exactly what to make of this wisdom bestowed upon her. "T-Thank You." As she grabbed her book that she had placed upon the bench to glance in the common mirror, her free hand went to pull up her hood, but then she stopped, what she had just learned sticking with her and she let her hand fall to her side, letting her to show her face, with an idea of who she was now. And as she left the store behind, holding her book tightly to her chest she smiled. Outside, BB straitened up from his slight lean as she came out, looking quite content with her self. "So, you find anything good." "Maybe." And as soon as those words left her lips she smiled and couldn't keep from blushing.
Chapter 2: Regret and Circumstance By: Ansa
For once the tower was silent, no video games, no rowdy games, no TV, just silence. The sun had been up for several hours, the minute hand on the clock passed its peek countless times in the hours in which the occupants were awake. Beast Boy made his way down the hall curious as to the lack of noise. The night before had made him more happy then he could ever remember, the party had been a disaster, the damage seemed irreparable, that is until he saw the look on her face when she clutched the large text in her hands, glancing with fascination to each page. Raven had actually smiled at him, not at him and Cyborg, not at the entire gang, but just him. He had made her happy, and that was the only thing he had ever wanted to do.
As the corridor opened up to the much larger living room, Beast Boy leaned on the corner of the wall, taking in each inch of the room searching for someone else besides himself. Propped on the couch sat Raven, deep into her reading of the dusty hardback given to her the night before, her hood lowered so that her hair and eyes were quite recognizable. Aside from this, there was not another soul to be found, five o-clock in the afternoon and not one other titan could be found to fill the silence that was both soothing and unsettling at the same time.
"Hey, where is everyone? Did Starfire try to cook dinner again?" Beast Boy made his way into the living room, still searching in each direction for signs of movement, placing himself behind the couch just next to where Raven sat, leaning against the top edge.
"I don't know." Raven didn't even look up from her read, her eyes never leaving the ancient text that took some time to decipher the first time she picked it up. Personally, the silence was a blessing, now she could come out of her room and study if she wanted to. But strangely, she also felt alone, for the first time she actually felt that she would be more at ease with the rest of the group banging around making such a racket that she was forced into her room. Even though it annoyed her, it felt homier that way, as if she never had to be anyone else but herself.
"Enjoying the book?" Suddenly Beast Boy's voice once again broke the silence, as well as her concentration, almost making her jump from the sudden brake in calm. And to her absolute shock, her cheeks flushed a soft pink knowing that he was that close to her. This was completely new for her; never before had she strayed so far from her melon coli disposition. Her mind raced to find an excuse for this, her heart pounded, praying he hadn't noticed her.
"Uh.yes." Quickly she inquired him, desperately trying to get her act back together. "But, I'd like to know, where did you get this?"
"Oh, right downtown, its not to far from the pizza shop actually, I could take you if you want." This time, it was BB turn to blush, even through his dark green skin one could see that the concept of taking Raven out to town alone seemed suggestive and embarrassed him for even bringing it up. Then the two pages in which the book was pry open to meet with a soft clap and the back cover gently set upon the cushion next to her.
"OK." Fortunately for him, Raven saw nothing of the proposition aside from the friendly gesture of one of her comrades. Even as she stood up, Raven fought back the sudden loss of control that had almost gotten her into an awkward situation. BB was taken aback; at first not realizing that she accepted, and then that she didn't find the question at all suggestive to anything between them. He was relieved, and yet, at the same time he was a little disappointed. Raven was like no one else he had ever met before in her life, and for some reason, he wanted her to be a part of it.
The subway was eerily empty that day, especially for its location, usually one could count on several people parading in their faces shielded by the mornings newspaper, briefcases hanging to their side and dark business suits clutching to their bodies. Today however, the entire car had a combined occupants of three, Raven, Beast Boy, and lonely old man riding the subway all around the city as a change of pace in his dull life. As they sat the familiar feeling of the cold and stiff surface beneath them shot through their bodies. The second her back rested in place, Raven's book was once again open and her eyes glided across the pages, picking out various spells and examining their effect very carefully. Beast Boy on the other hand, felt less at ease, instead his entire body went stiff, just as the "seats" in which they propped themselves in. The familiar beeps and hisses sounded and the doors shut as the train began to slowly lurch forward, giving a slight jerk as it went, only adding more uneasiness to Beast Boys temperament at the time. His mind raced as the car went dim, the overhead lights providing very little to see, apparently many bulbs needed replacing and not enough light was allowed for Raven to continue in her fascination and thus once again the book snapped shut and she let it rest upon her lap. The gentle rocking of the train slowly calmed his nerves and BB was able to relax, let his body free from its rigid state and exhale for the first time since they entered the confining module. BB looked up and out to the opposite side of the car and watched as periodic panels of light passed by, breaking only for more darkness. This systematic pulsing seemed to make a rhythm, reminding him of the many strobeing lights and throbbing sounds of the many nightclubs and rave parties he had attended. To him, the music had an a deep effect on his movements and actions, as if a sirens song the synthetic sound and bass lines seemed to posses his body, forcing it to contort in ways it never had before. He could look back to each and every party and not think of any two songs that made him dance in the same exact way. Each tone was different, different pulses, different processional beats, not one was the identity of another played before it. Each one he could still picture in his mind as clear as the lights flashed before him now, Cyborg would be grooving next to him, Robin and Starfire would be either trying to dance or sitting at the table chatting and Raven.Raven was always alone, no matter if she stayed at home or even if she came, she almost never seemed to be with anyone else. This thought sent a cold wave of regret down his body. He realized that he had never really tried to get her to dance, maybe he asked once or twice, but he never really tried. He had always shrugged it off and had his own way, not once thinking of leaving the dance floor and joining her, if not to just give her someone to stand and look on with. Perhaps they might have talked, perhaps not, but at least she wouldn't have been alone. BB tried to shake this cold chill down his back, they still had at least fifteen minutes until the train came to their stop, plus each stop before it was bound to take at least another minute or so to start going again even if no one else got on. The last thing he needed was to be aching over this for the rest of the ride, whatever he felt before would have no comparison to this sort of brooding. The rocking of the car as it made its way down the tracks became even more soothing than before, giving the illusion of the comfort of being at home in your own bed, or in your favorite hammock at your cabin in the country. BB closed his eyes and smiled, enjoying the swaying and coasting, it almost felt as if they were riding on air. The sound also became soothing, almost the equivalent of the soft patter of rain against window sills on the weekend, the kind of rain that had little clouds, still allowing the sun to grant a low glow illuminating the drops that formed on the glass. He felt warm, he felt safe, he felt happy. Then the swaying started to slow and dissipate as the train neared the next station, not their stop, but someone's for sure. BB watched as the lights began to glow brighter and eventually the entire light of the station poured in. A low hum followed by a slight screech sounded as the car came to a stop and the doors open letting only the old man out and the slightly cooler air in. As the doors closed once again, BB turned his head to look at his companion. "Guess we're the only ones out today." But to his surprise, the only response he received was Ravens slumbering head resting upon his left shoulder, a soft rhythm of breathing coming out her nose and lifting and lowering her chest. In seeing this, BB smiled, closed his eyes and let his head rest upon the window behind him as the gentle rocking that had eased Raven to sleep, let him drift into peaceful oblivion.
"So this is it?" Raven looked up to the hanging sign just above the dark and dusty store window written in a very distinct font. The door was old and had been painted over several times, the many shades of brown and grey bled through as to make a completely new color. "Yep, this is it alright, 'The Black Orb.'" Beast Boy stood not too far behind her, his hands resting on his hips and looking up in the same direction as her, quite proud of himself for being able to remember where it actually was. Raven stood there in the same fascination as she appeared when reading on the old text she now held at her side. As she made her way to the door, her hand already grasping the handle, she turned to see Beast Boy peering into the shop window next door, hands in pockets. "I'll only be a few minutes." Beast Boy turned suddenly, snapped out of his concentration on the object behind the glass. "Huh? Oh, ok, I'll meet up with you out here then." With that he turned and made his way inside, the soft jingle of the hanging bell signaling his disappearance into the store. And although she was quite fine on her own, for some reason she could not explain in her person, she felt a slight twinge of regret that he would not be joining her. Quickly she shook her head, once again trying to control these new and uncontainable thoughts and emotions, letting them drift away in her mind as she passed through the door frame, letting it shut behind her. Inside the smell of incense and mothballs intertwined to form this strange scent that both eased her mind and made her flinch at the first sniff of it. All along the walls stood bookcases filled with dusty old texts like the one she held under her arm at this very moment. Tapestries and decorative material of all age and origin patterned the spaces in which no more book shelves could be placed. In the middle of the room sat several tables with numerous fixings and trinkets, many fashioned in copper or gold. In the middle of the building, jutting out the east wall was the register on a bench forming out of the floor and all around the old woman that could be seen arranging small vials of a strange liquid behind her seat. It seemed that the sound of the door opening did not sway her actions any and this gave Raven comfort, knowing that she would not be hustled to buy anything she did not want. Slowly she canvassed the entire store, thumbing through the old books, carefully examining the tiny trinkets, and posing behind the many clerical robes in the rear part of the store. Her mind was filled with such curiosity, such fascination she almost didn't notice the old women approaching her as she propped up a long black robe made of fine silk. "Ah, your mind is filled with much wonder young one. Might I inquire into what you seek?" "Only knowledge." Raven was taken back a bit by the old woman's sudden appearance behind her, slowly gaining back her nerves before gently folding the robe back up and placing it on its rack. "Ah, Knowledge, knowledge is a good thing to seek. But one must know oneself before they might fully seek the knowledge they require." Her words were eerily close to being specific. Raven turned to look, only to see that she had disappeared behind her little bench and motioned for her come near. As Raven made her way over, the old women bent down under her line of sight and came back up with something wrapped in an old cloth. The old women held it out in both hands offering it to the young girl in the dark garbs. Reluctantly, Raven took it from her hands, cautiously peeling back the cloth to find an old hand mirror, beautifully designed and crafted in silver from the looks of it; the glass of the mirror grew brown lines around the corner rims from its old age. This disappointed her, an enchanted mirror was not new to her, in fact she had one in her room in which she used for meditation. The old woman's mysterious presence had dulled her senses and had gotten her hopes up for something fantastic. Instead, all she had received was an ordinary enchanted mirror. "A spell mirror, I have one of these. I'm sorry but it isn't anything I haven't seen before." Raven slowly placed the mirror face down on the bench and was about to walk away when the old woman called to her. "It is not enchanted," Raven looked at her with intrigue, "It is a regular, ever day, common mirror." Her words confused Raven, and yet, she knew there was some greater meaning behind it. "I get this feeling from you, that you spend your entire time seeking knowledge that you have lost all meaning as to who you are, and where your true desires lie." Raven was struck, the words still lingering in her mind, ringing in her ears, and sinking in deep where she had tried to bury these strange new emotions she had begun to feel. Then, she went to pick up the mirror again, and this time when she looked into it, she did not see its magic or its spells, instead, she saw herself, or rather two eyes and a mouth peering out from under a dark blue hood. With her eyes still fixed on the mirror she lifted her free hand and pulled back her robe so that she might see herself in the looking glass for the first time in so long. All the mirrors she had peered into only showed a hood with white eyes peering out, if that, finally, she was able to see herself for who she was. Then, her eyes moved to the edge of the glass and the strange pink flush appeared again as she saw Beast Boy reflecting back. Quickly she set the mirror down and turned to see him waiting outside the store window, peering across the street as something. "Do you see?" Once again, a feeling a cold swept over her and her mind was set adrift, not knowing exactly what to make of this wisdom bestowed upon her. "T-Thank You." As she grabbed her book that she had placed upon the bench to glance in the common mirror, her free hand went to pull up her hood, but then she stopped, what she had just learned sticking with her and she let her hand fall to her side, letting her to show her face, with an idea of who she was now. And as she left the store behind, holding her book tightly to her chest she smiled. Outside, BB straitened up from his slight lean as she came out, looking quite content with her self. "So, you find anything good." "Maybe." And as soon as those words left her lips she smiled and couldn't keep from blushing.