Satan's Child
Castles: Ow…pain….It's hard to type with a hot water bottle held to your stomach….where's my cup of tea?…..
Kitty: Oh do shut up, you have readers with questions, and you don't use your belly to write.
Castles: Right, I left you guys with a cliffie….And Rae said she thought she was pregnant, that doesn't mean she actually is…
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Scribs: You freak me (not) with your obsession with baby making. Isn't Rae and BB enough? If not, then read this chapter. It might satisfy some of your needs.
Evil Knievel: You put an extra 'h' on shit. You like my cliff hangers? Meh, who was John Belushi?
Change-Of-Heart2: I've been a bad girl recently, and as well as being banned of the computer, I got a slight writer's block, as there was a part of the chapter I needed to finish. It's the reviews from my wonderful readers that keeps me going.
MyNameIsMud19524: How am I supposed to know you've sunk to the lowest part of your life? I have never met you. I do not know anything about you, other than that you read my fan fics, and you've returned to the lowest point in your life. And just wait, things are gonna settle a bit for a while now…
byebyebb18: Ah, now just wait and see…A little hint, think back, - who did Rae sleep with first??? And she's probably keepin' the baby…
Shattered Life: When's your summer test? Did I make the deadline?!?! Please, do get some sleep. Tests are good things to study for!!
DragonWriter2: Just wait, Kiya's gonna have to show everything she can do real soon…re-adjusts hot water bottle Keep the faith!!
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Kitty: Castles does not own the Teen Titans, but she places all rights to Kiya, Shinta, and Shinta's mysterious boss, who's identity hasn't been revealed yet!!!
Castles: I'm hoping to cover several months in one go over these next few chapters. So if Rae is pregnant, she'll get a bump! I've left enough clues, they'll pick it up. Anyhowz, on with the ficcie!!
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Robin wasn't impressed.
He was far from impressed, - with himself.
How could he of been so stupid?
Why had he been so stupid?
Well, there was no point beating himself up over it, - he had no choice but to try and do what Star asked. Maybe he should go ask Beast Boy for some advice…Then again, Raven was female too. Maybe she'd know a bit more…
Robin's theoretical thinking, whilst staring out of the window, was disturbed by the entrance of everybody else, who noisily made their way like wild animals to the fridge. He sighed in annoyance, getting up and heading for the door amongst the rabble of the numerous Titans.
"Maybe I should get a new shade…"
"I am so gonna kick your ass at Pro Racer 13…"
"No, I'm gonna kick YOUR ass at Pro Racer 13!!!"
"Perhaps a blue?…"
"Nah, green will go better…"
"Only 'cause you have green skin…"
"Are you taking the piss of…"
"Language Kiya."
"Yo Robin, where are ya going?"
Robin sighed as everyone froze and turned reproachful eyes on him, eyes silently asking why he wasn't staying in the main room to eat breakfast.
"I'm not hungry. Going to work on Slade."
Cyborg shrugged, before turning back to the bacon frying in the pan. Raven shot a questioning look in Starfire's direction, before reflecting her gaze onto Robin. Neither gave her any answers, both turning away.
Before long, the mountain of dishes was added to, as breakfast was finished, and Cyborg headed for the remote, and the TV. Starfire merely picked up her bag from the chair nearby, and announced her exit to the others.
"I'm going out for a while, I'll be back later." She called, whilst aiming for the lift.
"Hang on Star, I'll come with you. I got a few things to get anyway." Raven answered, getting up and following her.
"See you later." Beast Boy added.
"Well are you playing or not?" Cyborg replied.
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The city streets were crowded, and Starfire was clearly in the mood for shopping. After being dragged round several shopping malls, Raven eventually pulled her back to a newsagents, where she picked up a few cans of coke, and some candy. (why am I using American terms?!)
"Shall we head for home?" Starfire excitedly asked, almost dropping her shopping bags.
"Not yet, I have to go to the chemist. Then we can go back to the tower if you want. " Raven said rather dead pan style.
"Oh, are you ill?" Star frowned.
"You go to doctors if you're seriously ill. But no, I'm not sick." Raven sarcastically added, leading the alien into the chemist.
"Hi, how can I help?" An assistant came forward, a half fake smile on her face.
"Can I have a pregnancy test please?" Raven asked….
5 minutes later, as the two walked out, Raven knew automatically that Starfire was going to question her, - and prepared herself with a few answers.
"So, why do you need…you know…" Star began.
"What do you think? I'm not pregnant? I don't know yet, but I'm pretty sure I am. And not a word to anyone. " Raven retorted.
"Okay, but, one more question?"
"What?"
"Who's the father?"
Raven kept quiet for a minute, and Starfire wondered if she'd said the wrong thing. When the demon saw the alien's look, she sighed, - and answered.
"I don't know yet. But if it has green skin and pointy ears, you know it's Beast Boy's." She smiled.
"But you haven't…."
"Oh I have slept with Beast Boy since getting out of BE, thank you very much. And that was before my drunken episode."
"So then, it could be either of them…"
"Exactly." Raven replied, absolutely dead pan.
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"It's official." Raven said, as Beast Boy eventually barged his was into the bathroom. "I'm pregnant. See, there's two lines." She presented him with the little white stick.
"Hang on, that means that you're going to be really protective again, doesn't it…" The changeling looked worried for a minute.
To his surprise, Raven burst into laughter, and hugged him closely. "If I swear a lot, then stay out of my way."
"I'll make sure I do that."
"Hey! I need a pee here!!! Come on, let me in!!!" Robin called desperately from behind the metal door.
"Okay, okay, we're out." Beast Boy shouted back, opening the door. Robin raised an eyebrow, looking suspiciously at them.
"What's that?" Robin asked, noticing the little white stick in Raven's hand.
"Nothing for you to worry about." Raven replied.
The two set off down the corridor, Raven secretly glad she'd put the wrapper from the pregnancy test in the bin in their room. Beast Boy suddenly stopped, as a thought popped into his head.
"What's wrong?" Raven curiously asked.
"I just thought, the last time I slept with you, we used protection, right? And that night you got drunk…"
"We didn't use protection…" Raven finished.
"So that means that, that you're probably not pregnant with my child." A look of shock came slowly across Beast Boy's face, as he realised the truth of what was happening."Actually, there is a possibility that it's your child. " Raven spoke up.
"How?"
"Because I went to the doctors after I last slept with you, and went on the pill again. I stopped today, as there wasn't any need for it. Therefore, that night I was drunk, I was on the pill, so there was protection there. How I'm pregnant at all, I don't know. Keep your hopes up, we won't know until it gets here."
"So you're keeping it?" A familiar flutter of excitement escaped him.
"Yep."
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==Two and a half months later==
Starfire was very lonely that evening. It had been about 2 months since she'd spoken to Robin, and she was very much down in the dumps. Evil had taken time off to plan something big, Cyborg had been too occupied with car repairs to pay much attention to anyone, Beast Boy had been keeping Kiya busy, and Raven had been so secretive and snappy that it was impossible to hold a conversation without her biting your head off.
She was surprised to hear a knock at the door.
Opening it, she found a rather guilty looking Robin standing there, and apparently ready to make amends.
"What do you want?" She asked coldly.
"To say sorry, to try and change, and hopefully save anything there is left between us." He managed to choke out slowly, unable too meet her eyes, he was so ashamed of himself.
"You always were one to leave it a long time before admitting you're in the wrong. Two months is an improvement on 5 years I suppose." Her voice held respect for the boy wonder, as well as relief that Robin had finally got over his pride, and pulled himself together.
"Well, Raven snapped at me when I bumped into her. I don't know what's up, but she's really off anybody even going near her." Eventually making eye contact, the two could only look at each other.
"I have noticed it too. Something is definitely wrong, and I think she's put on a bit of weight as well." Lying through her teeth, Star gradually smiled, nervousness taking hold of her for a moment. "Why don't you come in for a while…"
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"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"NO! You are not going out with Slade and his wannabes still wandering around! Now leave me alone!"
"Okay…Jeez, what's with the permanent PMS?!?!" At a death stare look, Kiya scuttled away from her angry mother, creeping away to find something else to do.
"You know, you should really tell her." A voice added from behind Raven.
"What, something like 'Oh by the way I'm pregnant, and you're going to have a little brother or sister soon'?"
"Not exactly…but…well, it's kinda beginning to show…" Beast Boy sat beside his girlfriend, hugging her tightly.
"I know it's beginning to show, but how can I tell her?" Raven had worked herself into a complicated rut, Beast Boy could see that.
"How's about if I tell her? " He suggested.
"You think you'd be able to explain my wonderful temperament?"
"I can try."
At this, Raven pulled away, striding over to the huge window, and looking out over the city. The changeling merely sighed, understanding what she was going through, and got up to go find his daughter. He bumped into Robin and Star on his way out, who seemed happier than normal.
"Raven?" Starfire queried.
"Not now Star, I really don't need it." Raven replied through gritted teeth.
"But you always never have time. What's wrong?"
"I thought you already knew that." Raven looked up at her words, giving the alien an odd look.
"I know that part," she whispered, "but you are a very complicated person at the moment, and you are acting very out of character." She raised her voice a bit on the last part, causing Robin to look over in interest.
"You really want to know?" Raven looked rather surprised.
"I know I'd like to know." Robin casually added, wandering over with a can of beer in his hand.
"Yes but who says I'm going to tell you?"
"And once again our point is proved, you getting defensive whenever we come near you." The boy wonder finished in a flat voice, unfazed by the demon's anger.
"Okay, " she gave a sigh of defeat," I'll tell you. I'm…pregnant, again. And things work differently with demons than mortals, so I'm gonna get snappy and…and defensive."
"You're pregnant?" Robin said whilst carefully adjusting his mask.
"Um, yeah. See?" She lifted her top, showing a very small, but visible bump beginning to form. "But on Azarath, when a demon is pregnant, she acts very differently to normal, because her primary function is to protect her growing child."
"But every pregnant woman naturally protects their unborn child, don't they?" Starfire's head was cocked to one side as she took it all in.
"Yes, but if you're not careful on Azarath, then other demons will attack both mother and child. Some forms of demon can shrink their size very small, and enter the mother through food or teleporting. Once inside the womb, they feed off the foetus and the food the mother gives it. Others wait until the mother is asleep, then stab through the womb, and watch as both mother and child die. Then they feed off both of them."
"Uh, that's like…disgusting.." Robin looked repulsed.
"Yes, but to try and prevent that, it's natural for female demons to refuse to let anyone come near them apart from their mate. And if someone does, then they will do anything possible to get them away. That's what I'm doing, acting naturally on my instincts. And you can't stop or prevent instincts. Sometimes, I even reject Beast Boy's company. Keeping a hand across the stomach is natural too, it means you can quickly use a shield to protect the baby."
"O…kay…" Starfire managed to stammer out. "So that means that all this moodiness is natural?"
"Uh huh."
"Well that explains a lot." Robin added." And there's nothing you can do to stop yourself acting like this?"
"Yes…I just told you, it's instinct. It's naturally acting on what I see as the right thing to do. Of course there's no threat at the moment, but maybe there will be eventually." Raven repeated in exasperation.
"Time will tell."
The moonlight washed over them, as Robin's words echoed over the ever rushing waters below.
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"The time is nearly upon us." Shinta spoke with her head bowed, hoping not to displease her master.
"Yes, it is nearly here. And the Titans have no idea as to what it is that I really want from them. They haven't worked it out yet, they think all I want is the girl." Her master clicked his fingers from where he sat, summoning forth Shinta to kneel by his side.
"Don't forget my dear, it was Terra's mistakes that brought us here. But it is the difficulty in taking the girl, in order to get what I truly want, that is proving most perplexing." His words were firm and even as he laid a hand to rest on Shinta's lowered head.
"Are you proposing that we alter our methods?" Shinta cringed as she spoke, knowing how her master hated to be questioned. She was surprised when she was not shoved away from him in anger. Instead, her master remained calm and stern, eyes closed in thought.
"Brother Blood will not wait forever. Although they are not so much as Brother Blood now, but more commonly known as Satan's Sign. And they want Satan's Child, which we will provide for them."
"And what, my most great Master, will we receive, or gain from giving the child to Satan's Sign?"
"We will get the girl, and her father, - once Business Enterprise are finished with them. And that my dear, will benefit us most brilliantly in destroying the remaining Titans, and taking control of the city. "
"Before moving on to many more, and taking the world?"
"You have ambition my dear Shinta, much ambition indeed. Father!"
A tall figure stepped out from the shadows, slightly below the height of his son sitting before him. His lone eye showed age, compassion, the orange complementing the shades of black that kept him wrapped in mystery.
This was Slade. The Titans former enemy, the person responsible for beginning this destructive hell hole that they all stood it. The one responsible for raising his son to be as ruthless and cold hearted as he was. He still held a part of this new world, clinging on to his past with the new rule of his son, as the mission of the Satan's Child re-surfaced his threat to the Titans.
And over time, he would have his revenge for the loss of his greatest weapon.
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Shinta was very determined as she strode back up the steel staircases. Her boots made a thudding sound with every step, her sleek hair gleaming dully in the dim lighting. Her slender body was very agile as she carefully pushed through a very abandoned looking door, that bore both deep scratch marks, and very nasty scorch marks. Inside, as she gazed around, finding what she was looking for, a sudden squeak, and a crash from behind startled her beyond words.
"Who's there?" She nervously called.
"You…failed….to…destroy…them…" A harsh, croaked voice, female sounding, giving off the impression of one drunk, called out from behind the terrified demon.
"Who are you? Who didn't I destroy?" Shinta wouldn't deny she was afraid, that was something she had always admired about herself.
"You…don't...get...it…The Titans…are…too…strong…to defeat…" The mysterious female voice was beginning to sound familiar to Shinta. "The…girl's parents…will…defend…her…to…the death…"
"Terra?" Shinta gasped.
"Terra is dead. And she…wants…revenge…"
"But the girl isn't who we want. We want her parents." The demon was trying to find the light switch, and see who the impostor was.
"Ah…but…they…won't come…willingly….You need bait….which is….the girl…" The voice was accompanied with heavy breaths, which came with every gap in the stranger's words.
Shinta found the light switch. Desperately, she flicked it downwards, thrusting a bright light upon the two women in the room….
Shinta barely heard herself scream in shock and terror as she saw a ragged, painfully bony, spaced out Terra. Blood clung to her dirty, lank blonde hair, deepened cuts and other bloody patches covering her. Once bluey eyes, now a filthy gray, focused blindly upon the terrified, black clothed villain before her. Numb feelings, dampened down thoughts, winding memories spun around the young girl's mind, confusing and fooling her. She stumbled backwards, heading for the broken doorway. The rags nearly fell off her thin, wilted body as she limped out of the room, leaving a shocked, and equally confused Shinta.
"So Terra shocks you my dear?" Her master's voice suddenly echoed from beside her, causing Shinta to look up in horror, breathing deeply.
"Now, now, it's ok to be frightened of her. She's merely undergone a few changes that have poisoned her mind and body into slowly rotting away." His servant looked up, tears falling slowly down her face. "Don't go soft Shinta. If you fail this mission, - the very same thing will happen to you."
Shinta's moans of horror shrieked down the long metal corridors as she was dragged away, the cold numbness of death flooding through her body….
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==3 months later==
"There's been no sign of Shinta and Terra, no hints or clues, and we're stuck trying to work it out?! Geez, how much in the dark are we?!" Robin wasn't in a good mood, and neither was Raven.
"Well we aren't going to find out much sitting around yelling, are we?!" Cyborg retaliated.
A crash and explosion could be heard in the background, as pots and pans from the kitchen were flung off their hooks, and came cluttering onto the floor.
"Take a hint." Raven coolly added. "Baby doesn't like you when your arguing with each other." She went back to the ancient book she had out of the pile on the couch.
"Why does that always happen?" Kiya asked from where she had her head in another book.
"'Cause your little brother or sister clearly knows how to use their powers. Good job they can't shape shift in there." She smiled, before turning the book upside down, back up straight again, then discarding it with a sigh.
"Isn't there anything useful in here? I'm lookin' but I'm not finding anythin' " Cyborg complained from his position on the other end of the couch.
"Well, " Raven carefully got up, her bump considerably bigger after 5 months, "I've emptied everything that could be of any use, but I'll go check and see if there's some books I might have missed. Coming Kiya?"
"Yeah, alright." The young changeling added, managing at long last to transform into a little bird, and fly out with her mother. Thankfully for both of them, the journey back to Raven's old room, now the room she shared with Beast Boy, wasn't that far to walk at all. The only downfall was finding any remaining books that would be of use amongst Raven's vast collection.
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Robin was still feeling guilty himself. Sitting beside the window, as Raven and Kiya returned with a few books, he happened to look down with curiosity, realising that the slight flickers of light below wasn't the moon upon the water of the bay, but in fact the beams of torch lights, from people who were up to no good, from as far as he could see of.
"Titans! Trouble! Below us, on the island! " Robin shouted his orders, everyone moving quickly and heading for the door. Soothing her baby, Raven did follow, but only as a back up if the others needed her.
By the time the Titans got there, the torches were gone, and whatever the people had been up to, it had already been finished. They rummaged around, looking for clues, calling to Raven that it was safe to come out on to the island. It was Starfire who made the discovery, falling over the open body bag.
"Ow…" The alien protested from the ground. She felt Raven beside her, helping her dazed self up. Raven didn't stay long. The next thing she did was scream in utter shock as she saw who was in the body bag.
"Whoa, what's going on here? Who screamed?…" Cyborg's protests were cut off by Raven's points to the ground.
"Bloody hell…" Beast Boy whispered from behind Raven, catching her gently to stop the demon collapsing.
"Terra…" Robin finished, breaths coming deep.
In front of the Titans, was a rather dead Terra. Completely different to the last time they'd seen her, there wasn't much left of her flesh, bare bone showing through dried blood. The few clumps of hair left were matted together by the blood, the girls unable to see Terra in such a state for long, Starfire sinking into Robin's arms, tears dropping from her beautiful green eyes.
Beast Boy had a slightly more difficult time, coping with both his girlfriend and his daughter. Thankfully, Raven didn't need as much comfort, breaking away from him after a few minutes, hands carefully stroking her stomach. Kiya however was the complete opposite, distressed beyond words by Terra's appearance. Her father offered the most comfort he could give her, remembering his own history with Terra, something feeling for her inside.
"We ought to bury her…properly…at some point." Starfire managed to say from her place in Robin's arms.
"Maybe a post mortem, to find out how she died." Cyborg grimly added. The Titans chatted amongst themselves for a minute, before a gasp of pain from Raven made everyone turn their attention to her. She took several deep breaths, joined quickly by Beast Boy and Kiya, before she relaxed a bit more, seemingly okay.
"Are you alright mum?" Kiya asked.
"I'll be fine…but your brother or sister is not happy, I can tell you that much."
Secretly, although she did not tell them, Raven did know what sex her child was going to be, honouring their wish to not tell anyone what they were going to be.
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Castles; Don't you just love it when I throw something randomly nasty in? I figured going into detail about Terra's 'dead' appearance might break FF.net rules, so I kept it to a minimum. Raven knows whether it's going to be a boy or a girl! Yay!
Kitty: Come on people! Slade's son is behind all this need for Kiya capture! Do we need to spell it out!
Castles: ::gags Kitty:: Shut up. Anyway, c ya when we update!