Chapter 2
A month passed uneventfully. The odd callout to stop bank robbers, but nothing really exciting.
Beastboy woke up and went to the kitchen. Starfire was the only one there.
"Robin and Cyborg went to buy food. But there is enough bread for toast, if you would like it."
"Sure, thanks Starfire." He stretched and sat down. A newspaper lay on the surface and he unfolded it.
"The world is boring." He said, turning the pages. Starfire nodded.
"It seems like the Teen Titans never have anything to do."
"I know what you mean. I'm almost at the point where I'm finding video games boring." He said. He looked up and saw Starfire's shock. He grinned.
"I said almost."
Munching toast, he went for a shower. When he had dressed and gone into the living room, he found Robin and Cyborg had returned. They were talking and Beastboy joined them.
"What's up?"
"Slade. Saw one of his lackeys in town. Beat him up, couldn't get anything out of him though." Cyborg said. Robin was frowning.
"I think he's planning something big."
"When has he ever aimed small?" Beastboy pointed out. Robin chewed his lip.
"We can't hunt for him. It could take us days before we find anything."
"We'll just have to wait for him to contact us." Starfire said. Robin nodded.
He hated letting Slade have the upper hand. But until Slade contacted them they couldn't track him. Robin sighed. Starfire hugged him.
"Do not be sad, Robin. Let's go into town and look at that new videogame store. That will surely cheer us up."
"Yeah, look on the bright side, Boy Wonder. Let's go have some fun and prepare ourselves." Cyborg said. Robin grinned.
"OK, you've convinced me. I'm just…" he shook his head.
"What is it?"
"Well, we've never fought Slade without- I mean with just the four of us."
"You can say her name, you know." Beastboy said, slurping soy milk. Robin went slightly red.
"We've never fought Slade without Raven."
"We'll do OK." Beastboy said. Cyborg nodded.
"Yeah. We'll beat him. We always do, and we always will."
The store was brilliant. The boys were in heaven and Starfire shared their excitement with excess enthusiasm. They tried out all of the games and Cyborg decided to buy the new Autoracer game. Beastboy was sorely tempted by a handheld console, but eventually decided against it. He could always come back another day for it.
Starfire and Robin were chatting and Cyborg went to buy the game. Beastboy looked around the store. The ceiling was covered with mirrors, enabling him to see all over the store. He saw Cyborg on the other side, purchasing his new game. A couple of teenage boys were battling each other on a wrestling game in the far corner.
And right on the other side, by the exit was a figure in a midnight blue cloak.
Beastboy's breathe caught in his throat. The hood was pulled over the person's head, and wrapped tightly around them. It could be anyone.
But the head was looking at him. It was covered, but he could tell that it was facing his reflection on the ceiling.
And as he took a step forward a hand appeared from beneath the cloak. An unusually pale-skinned hand. It only appeared from a second and then it was hidden again.
And he knew.
He took a chance and ran to the exit. Starfire and Robin turned to stare as Cyborg returned to them.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know!" Robin called back and they started after their friend.
Beastboy arrived at the exit and the figure was gone. He burst out onto the street, shocking several shoppers. He looked frantically from side to side. At the end of the street he saw a flash of blue. He darted after it, the other Titans following.
As he reached the corner, despair filled him. The street was crowded and the figure was nowhere to be seen.
The other caught up to him.
"BB, what is it?" Cyborg shouted. He continued to stare around.
"It was her…"
"What?"
"I saw her! She was there!" He shouted and turned to them.
"Guys, she's back."
"Why did she not say hello?" Starfire wondered.
"I dunno. Maybe she's afraid. We've gotta find her!"
"Beastboy, are you sure?" Robin asked. Beastboy nodded fervently.
"It was her. I know it was. I didn't see her face, but it was definitely her. Please, Robin. We have to find her."
Robin nodded.
"We will, Beastboy. We will."
Raven slipped down a side alley. She had not meant for Beastboy to see her. She breathed deeply. Looking around the corner, she saw the four Teen Titans were returning to the Tower. Leaning against the wall she looked down at the metal cuff on her wrist.
Soon. Soon she would go to them and hopefully they would accept her back. But not yet. It had been too long. She couldn't just waltz back into their lives.
She had seen that with Terra. Would they do the same thing again? Accept her back, completely trusting her? Or would they turn her away? She wouldn't blame them.
She had just wanted to see Beastboy again. She didn't mean for him to see her. So desperate the urge had been, to see him.
He was taller than when she left. More muscular, but still thin. Other than that… it was as if she had never left.
Raven wondered if she had changed at all. Did she look different from when she had left? She felt different on the inside.
But one of the things she feared most was that they would ask where she had been. And she knew they would ask it. What would she say?
Nothing. It was too hard to talk about. She just wanted to forget about it. But would she be allowed to?
Raven walked slowly to her shabby apartment. The wallpaper peeled from the walls, and damp patches of carpet were growing mould. She sat on the sofa and looked across to the cracked mirror. Her gaunt face stared back. Her skin was sallow and undernourished. Her eyes had dark circles beneath them and her hair was lank, and now reached her elbows. Her cloak was filthy and had holes in it. Her outfit was dirty too.
Fear surged through her. Fear of being turned away, fear of losing her friends again. She didn't know if she would be able to do it again.
But you never knew unless you tried.
She would go back.
Soon.