"...Presently my heart grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you" -- here I opened wide the door; --
Darkness there, and nothing more..."
-Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven
Disclaimer: Nope, don't know it. Don't own the poem either *Wonders off muttering about evil people who are more talented*
Following Shadows-Chapter 13: Darkness There, And Nothing More
The spray from the water below made Raven shiver. She had been walking for what seemed like ages, and the only thing that changed was her energy levels. The sea underneath the unstable rocks looked cold and dark. Following the rocky path, across the void of water, Raven picked up another presence.
She paused, and looked around, but no one was there.
"Raven," She must be hearing things. There was no voice on Earth that could imitate the sound of someone dying and yet still come out a whisper. "Raven,"
Rising from the water, a pale figure stretched out a rotting hand towards her.
Raven recoiled from it, only to find the same creature was on the other side.
She was trapped.
"Raven" The voice said, it's tone making her mind scream with fear. "Join us Raven. Join us."
"No!" She yelled, unable to move from the oncoming ghosts.
"Yeeessssss" It hissed. The pale, deathly witches crawling onto the rock. Taking an arm each, they pulled her down into the water. Struggling to be free, they tightened their grip on her.
Sinking down into the water, more horrible creatures floated towards her, clawing at her cloak, her hair and her skin.
Darker and darker, deeper and deeper.
Just before she drowned, Raven heard Jinx laugh.
***************************
Peering up at the warehouse, Starfire made up her mind. She was going to go in there, and find that horrible Jinx girl.
Just then her communicator beeped for the second time.
"Yes?" She asked.
Robin's face filled the screen. "Star," He said impatiently. "Where are you? Raven's sick and we need to find Jinx-"
"But Robin!" Starfire exclaimed. "I am on the villain's trail as we speak!"
"You are? Where are you?"
"At the..." She squinted at the sign painted on the left side. "'Magical Mayhem Factory of Tricks'. It is a large shed near the West Side docking bay for water vehicles"
"Alright then. We'll be there in a few minutes. Make sure that Jinx doesn't leave"
The screen went black.
************************
Watching as the dippy alien girl walked into the warehouse, Jinx smirked. This was too easy. First she had gotten that witch who had killed her sister, and now she would get the cow who didn't prevent her from doing so.
Remembering when her grandmother had called her, telling her that Pixie was dead, Jinx frowned. They were always fighting, always at each other's throats for some reason, but since it had been just the two of them, Jinx had tried to take care of her little sister.
When she went to H.I.V.E, their grandmother looked after Pixie till she was old enough to attend.
Their parents wouldn't have approved of their daughters training, but they weren't alive to know.
And now, Jinx had no one. Her grandmother didn't count, that old hag had always hated her.
"Yes," She hissed to herself as Starfire investigated an empty crate. "I will destroy you all for ruining my life"
****************************
Pulling back from the crate, Starfire heard a scuffing sound. Listening hard, she heard it again.
"Come out," She said, readying her bolts. "I do not wish to hurt you, but if you proceed to continue, I shall have to 'eat my words'"
Nothing.
Jumping down behind her silently, Jinx held up her hand. She was going to blast Starfire to next week and beyond, when the other Teen Losers burst through the door.
"Starfire! Behind you!" Robin called.
Jinx threw her curse at Starfire as she turned. Seeing the pink blur flying towards her, she threw herself on the ground.
It flew past, harmlessly.
Jinx shrieked, and went to throw another one, when a giant green snake wrapped itself around her.
Robin walked over to her, his anger showing. "Either you tell me what you did to Raven and how I can fix it, or I let my friend here use you for a squeeze toy"
Beast Boy wrapped himself around her tighter.
"Never!" She spat. "I'd rather die than help you save that bitc-" Beast Boy squeezed harder.
Cyborg came up then, his canon loaded while Starfire's eyes began glowing.
Jinx gave in. "Fine," She muttered. Glaring up at them all with hatred, she said, "There's a poison in her blood that is making her dream. The worse the nightmare, the more her physical body dies."
"We already know that," Robin growled. "How is it stopped?"
"It isn't" Jinx replied coldly. "You have to let it run its course. If she can think of something else, something that she can keep hold of, then she should be able to pull through" Looking up at them, she added tiredly, "Hurry up and hand me in"
*************************
Watching as the police van pulled away, Cyborg commented to Robin, "That was too easy"
"I know" He answered.
*****************************
Jinx laughed as the van drove off. Those idiots had believed her. She grinned as she replayed the scene in her head, the trusting Titans not even bothering to find out whether she was lying or not.
Losers.
She could just picture them, all sitting around the bed, talking to someone that would never hear them. Trying to get her to remember why she should fight.
Pitiful. Just pitiful.
They might figure it out, she reasoned, they're not that stupid. Then again...that green one acted like such a dork...and the alien must be secretly blonde...the Tin Man was just a bunch of wires connected together...
But the Boy Wonder. The Boy Wonder had the brains. He'd be the one to realize.
But when he did, it'd be too late.
**************************
Beep, beep, beep
Sitting by Raven's temporary bed the next morning, Robin just waited.
"Come on Raven," He urged, reaching across and taking hold of her hand. "Come on, you can do it. Pull through, you have to"
Looking at the snowy white orchids that had meant to be a Valentines Day gift, Robin sighed. He had originally planned to take her out that night, seeing as it was his turn to spend the day with her.
But now...
Just then Beast Boy bounced in the room, holding a bunch of Daisies.
Letting go of Raven's hand, Robin tried to make it look like he hadn't been touching her.
Beast Boy glared at his hand suspiciously, but ignored it and placed the daisies next to Robin's orchids. He stood by the bed awkwardly for a moment or two, glancing at Raven guiltily, then left.
Robin watched him go, for some strange reason feeling satisfied. Turning his attention back to Raven, he fiddled with the bird-a-rang by his side. The urge to go down to the prison and hurl it at Jinx was very tempting. Had she been telling the truth? Could he risk Raven's life by trusting her?
There must have been something else.
"Happy Day of All Love, Robin!" Starfire smiled as she came in the room. "I have purchased gifts for you and friend Raven to celebrate this day of affection!" She held out a box of candies for Robin, and a basket of strawberries for the unconscious girl. "I am aware that friend Raven will not be able to enjoy these fruits for now, but when she awakens, I am sure that my token of friendship will be the thing to sweeten up her temperament. Or so Beast Boy has said"
Robin managed a weak smile. "Sounds great Star"
"Is something the matter?" Setting down the basket, Starfire sat next to him. "You are not your normal self"
Gazing down at Raven's face, he shook his head. "There's nothing wrong"
"But there is. Are you concerned for Raven's well being?"
"Something like that"
Starfire looked at him, her large green eyes sad. "You care for her more than plutonic friendship, do you not?"
Surprised he asked, "What makes you say that?" This was hitting to close to home for his liking.
"Do you?" She persisted.
Looking from Raven to Starfire, Robin's head spun. Both of them were his friends. Both of them attracted him in different ways. But only one filled his thoughts.
"Do you?" The insecurity in her voice made Robin wonder if he could tell her.
"No," He answered, even though a part of him was yelling at him to stop. "I don't"
*******************************
"No! Don't! RAAVVVEEENN!"
"Robin? Robin where are you?" Looking around the dark circle of trees, Raven cursed. This was another trap from Jinx's curse.
"I...I...can't! Don't you understand? I can't be with you!" Robin's voice was pained. "I'm sorry Raven, but Starfire needs me"
"Robin? What are you talking about?"
A shadowy figure stepped out from the trees. "I...I don't want to do this...b- but, Star will die...I-if I don't"
In a quick, silver flash, he had thrown one of the silver chucking stars she had given him, straight at her.
It cut through her throat.
"I'm sorry Raven" Then he faded.
****************************
"Cyborg? Cyborg! Come quick! Raven's breathing is dropping!" Robin ran to the cabinet across the room as Cyborg sprinted to the Goth, still holding the charts he was marking.
"Ventilator?" He asked, dropping the charts and flicking switches on the machine next to her.
"Right here" Passing the ventilator, Robin stepped back. Cyborg fitted it on Raven's face, then turned it on.
Her stats still dropped.
"I don't understand!" Cyborg cried, frustrated. Punching keys on the computer, he became even more enraged. "It's saying that she's losing blood, but there's no cuts!"
Understanding, Robin bolted to the door.
"Hey! Where you going?"
"To bring Raven back!"
Panting, he nudged Raven's door open. Stepping inside, he saw what he had been looking for.
Raven's mirror.
Picking it up, he waited. It sucked him in, five seconds later.
*****************************
Happy skipped around, humming to herself. She still missed Eclipse, but now he was fading into a pleasant memory. There was something wrong in the balance, but she hadn't run into anything yet, so, it was all good.
Seeing a handsomely familiar person up ahead, she started laughing. It was too perfect.
"Hi Robin!" She called merrily.
He saw her and did a double take. "Raven?"
"The one and only!" Then she laughed, remembering that there were others.
"Raven?" Robin asked suspiciously. That couldn't be the same girl who was dying downstairs. She was...too...too happy!
Giggling, the pink cloaked Raven stared up at him, her cheeks going red. "Wow, you're even cuter up close!"
His jaw dropped. "I'm...I'm what?"
She laughed. "I said you were even cuter up close! What's the matter? Don't take flattery?"
This was unbelievable. This couldn't be Raven. It was a clone made by Jinx to throw him off the track.
Then he remembered. Cyborg had told him once about what had happened after the whole Dr. Light attack. He and Beast Boy had snuck into Raven's room, and found a portal into her mind through her mirror. He knew that already, but he'd forgotten about the separate personalities.
Gathering his courage, he asked, "Where would I go to talk to...you?"
Happy stopped twirling, and blinked at him. "You mean, Raven, Raven?"
"Yeah"
She smiled and skipped the way he had came. "Follow me and I'll show you!"
Starting to sing, she led the way.
**********************
"There was a farmer who had a dog and BINGO was his name-o! B-I-N-GO! B-I-N- G-O! B-I-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-o!"
Robin groaned as the bubbly version of Raven started singing BINGO for the twenty third time. They had been walking for what seemed like ages, the scenery never changing from the rocky path and stark trees.
"I-N-GO! And *clap* -I-N-G-O was his name-o! Here we are!" Happy stopped her cheerful rhyme and smiled broadly at Robin. "The only door to the real Raven!"
He stared at the thick wooden door imbedded in the rock face.
"Go in!" Happy encouraged. Stepping closer, she kissed him on the cheek. "For luck" She winked.
Gaping at her, he was pulled in the door before he could react.
***************************** Raven was on her knees, surrounded by darkness. This was it. She was dying. All those nightmares...the endless stream...she rather she be killed now. Sensing someone else in the dream, she muttered, "Just get this over with"
"Raven?" Robin asked.
She didn't turn.
"Raven?" He asked again. "Raven, you've got to wake up. Don't let Jinx win"
Raven faced him warily. "Isn't this the part where you stab me with your Bo Staff?"
"No! Why would I do that?" Going to her side, he tried to help her up. "Raven, I'm not apart of your dream! You have to wake up!"
"You're another trick. You're just another part of my mind trying to make me see the truth." She stared straight ahead with hollow eyes. "Reflection's of my conscience. That's all you are" A glowing ring of power formed around her and started to lift her off the ground.
"No!" Grabbing her hand, he tried to pull her back. "Raven, you can't give in. Don't give in! We need you!" As a after thought he whispered, "I need you"
Somewhere, deep inside her, she heard. They needed her? She saw him, trying to save her, and it finally made sense.
The whirlwind died away, and Raven floated gently to the ground, still holding his hand.
He squeezed her hand tighter. Helping her up, he thought she looked...more her. More real.
"Don't ever, ever do that to me again" Robin ordered firmly. The Darkness around them faded, revealing bright whiteness.
"You cared?" Raven asked, surprised. The Boy Wonder nodded firmly. "Of course I did. More than you think"
She blushed.
********************
Cyborg turned to Robin as he walked through the door of the lab. "Whew, that was a close call. For a moment there, I thought we'd lost her"
Robin walked over to her bed and waited. Soon, her eyelids fluttered open, confused at first, but taking on an understanding when she saw him.
He smiled and to his amazement, she smiled right back.
***************************
Cyborg watched as Wonder Boy and Dark Girl just stood there, smiling at each other. Raven rarely smiled, but when she did, it always awed him. Slipping out of the room, he left the two alone.
AN: Now the real fun can begin...Hahhaha!
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you" -- here I opened wide the door; --
Darkness there, and nothing more..."
-Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven
Disclaimer: Nope, don't know it. Don't own the poem either *Wonders off muttering about evil people who are more talented*
Following Shadows-Chapter 13: Darkness There, And Nothing More
The spray from the water below made Raven shiver. She had been walking for what seemed like ages, and the only thing that changed was her energy levels. The sea underneath the unstable rocks looked cold and dark. Following the rocky path, across the void of water, Raven picked up another presence.
She paused, and looked around, but no one was there.
"Raven," She must be hearing things. There was no voice on Earth that could imitate the sound of someone dying and yet still come out a whisper. "Raven,"
Rising from the water, a pale figure stretched out a rotting hand towards her.
Raven recoiled from it, only to find the same creature was on the other side.
She was trapped.
"Raven" The voice said, it's tone making her mind scream with fear. "Join us Raven. Join us."
"No!" She yelled, unable to move from the oncoming ghosts.
"Yeeessssss" It hissed. The pale, deathly witches crawling onto the rock. Taking an arm each, they pulled her down into the water. Struggling to be free, they tightened their grip on her.
Sinking down into the water, more horrible creatures floated towards her, clawing at her cloak, her hair and her skin.
Darker and darker, deeper and deeper.
Just before she drowned, Raven heard Jinx laugh.
***************************
Peering up at the warehouse, Starfire made up her mind. She was going to go in there, and find that horrible Jinx girl.
Just then her communicator beeped for the second time.
"Yes?" She asked.
Robin's face filled the screen. "Star," He said impatiently. "Where are you? Raven's sick and we need to find Jinx-"
"But Robin!" Starfire exclaimed. "I am on the villain's trail as we speak!"
"You are? Where are you?"
"At the..." She squinted at the sign painted on the left side. "'Magical Mayhem Factory of Tricks'. It is a large shed near the West Side docking bay for water vehicles"
"Alright then. We'll be there in a few minutes. Make sure that Jinx doesn't leave"
The screen went black.
************************
Watching as the dippy alien girl walked into the warehouse, Jinx smirked. This was too easy. First she had gotten that witch who had killed her sister, and now she would get the cow who didn't prevent her from doing so.
Remembering when her grandmother had called her, telling her that Pixie was dead, Jinx frowned. They were always fighting, always at each other's throats for some reason, but since it had been just the two of them, Jinx had tried to take care of her little sister.
When she went to H.I.V.E, their grandmother looked after Pixie till she was old enough to attend.
Their parents wouldn't have approved of their daughters training, but they weren't alive to know.
And now, Jinx had no one. Her grandmother didn't count, that old hag had always hated her.
"Yes," She hissed to herself as Starfire investigated an empty crate. "I will destroy you all for ruining my life"
****************************
Pulling back from the crate, Starfire heard a scuffing sound. Listening hard, she heard it again.
"Come out," She said, readying her bolts. "I do not wish to hurt you, but if you proceed to continue, I shall have to 'eat my words'"
Nothing.
Jumping down behind her silently, Jinx held up her hand. She was going to blast Starfire to next week and beyond, when the other Teen Losers burst through the door.
"Starfire! Behind you!" Robin called.
Jinx threw her curse at Starfire as she turned. Seeing the pink blur flying towards her, she threw herself on the ground.
It flew past, harmlessly.
Jinx shrieked, and went to throw another one, when a giant green snake wrapped itself around her.
Robin walked over to her, his anger showing. "Either you tell me what you did to Raven and how I can fix it, or I let my friend here use you for a squeeze toy"
Beast Boy wrapped himself around her tighter.
"Never!" She spat. "I'd rather die than help you save that bitc-" Beast Boy squeezed harder.
Cyborg came up then, his canon loaded while Starfire's eyes began glowing.
Jinx gave in. "Fine," She muttered. Glaring up at them all with hatred, she said, "There's a poison in her blood that is making her dream. The worse the nightmare, the more her physical body dies."
"We already know that," Robin growled. "How is it stopped?"
"It isn't" Jinx replied coldly. "You have to let it run its course. If she can think of something else, something that she can keep hold of, then she should be able to pull through" Looking up at them, she added tiredly, "Hurry up and hand me in"
*************************
Watching as the police van pulled away, Cyborg commented to Robin, "That was too easy"
"I know" He answered.
*****************************
Jinx laughed as the van drove off. Those idiots had believed her. She grinned as she replayed the scene in her head, the trusting Titans not even bothering to find out whether she was lying or not.
Losers.
She could just picture them, all sitting around the bed, talking to someone that would never hear them. Trying to get her to remember why she should fight.
Pitiful. Just pitiful.
They might figure it out, she reasoned, they're not that stupid. Then again...that green one acted like such a dork...and the alien must be secretly blonde...the Tin Man was just a bunch of wires connected together...
But the Boy Wonder. The Boy Wonder had the brains. He'd be the one to realize.
But when he did, it'd be too late.
**************************
Beep, beep, beep
Sitting by Raven's temporary bed the next morning, Robin just waited.
"Come on Raven," He urged, reaching across and taking hold of her hand. "Come on, you can do it. Pull through, you have to"
Looking at the snowy white orchids that had meant to be a Valentines Day gift, Robin sighed. He had originally planned to take her out that night, seeing as it was his turn to spend the day with her.
But now...
Just then Beast Boy bounced in the room, holding a bunch of Daisies.
Letting go of Raven's hand, Robin tried to make it look like he hadn't been touching her.
Beast Boy glared at his hand suspiciously, but ignored it and placed the daisies next to Robin's orchids. He stood by the bed awkwardly for a moment or two, glancing at Raven guiltily, then left.
Robin watched him go, for some strange reason feeling satisfied. Turning his attention back to Raven, he fiddled with the bird-a-rang by his side. The urge to go down to the prison and hurl it at Jinx was very tempting. Had she been telling the truth? Could he risk Raven's life by trusting her?
There must have been something else.
"Happy Day of All Love, Robin!" Starfire smiled as she came in the room. "I have purchased gifts for you and friend Raven to celebrate this day of affection!" She held out a box of candies for Robin, and a basket of strawberries for the unconscious girl. "I am aware that friend Raven will not be able to enjoy these fruits for now, but when she awakens, I am sure that my token of friendship will be the thing to sweeten up her temperament. Or so Beast Boy has said"
Robin managed a weak smile. "Sounds great Star"
"Is something the matter?" Setting down the basket, Starfire sat next to him. "You are not your normal self"
Gazing down at Raven's face, he shook his head. "There's nothing wrong"
"But there is. Are you concerned for Raven's well being?"
"Something like that"
Starfire looked at him, her large green eyes sad. "You care for her more than plutonic friendship, do you not?"
Surprised he asked, "What makes you say that?" This was hitting to close to home for his liking.
"Do you?" She persisted.
Looking from Raven to Starfire, Robin's head spun. Both of them were his friends. Both of them attracted him in different ways. But only one filled his thoughts.
"Do you?" The insecurity in her voice made Robin wonder if he could tell her.
"No," He answered, even though a part of him was yelling at him to stop. "I don't"
*******************************
"No! Don't! RAAVVVEEENN!"
"Robin? Robin where are you?" Looking around the dark circle of trees, Raven cursed. This was another trap from Jinx's curse.
"I...I...can't! Don't you understand? I can't be with you!" Robin's voice was pained. "I'm sorry Raven, but Starfire needs me"
"Robin? What are you talking about?"
A shadowy figure stepped out from the trees. "I...I don't want to do this...b- but, Star will die...I-if I don't"
In a quick, silver flash, he had thrown one of the silver chucking stars she had given him, straight at her.
It cut through her throat.
"I'm sorry Raven" Then he faded.
****************************
"Cyborg? Cyborg! Come quick! Raven's breathing is dropping!" Robin ran to the cabinet across the room as Cyborg sprinted to the Goth, still holding the charts he was marking.
"Ventilator?" He asked, dropping the charts and flicking switches on the machine next to her.
"Right here" Passing the ventilator, Robin stepped back. Cyborg fitted it on Raven's face, then turned it on.
Her stats still dropped.
"I don't understand!" Cyborg cried, frustrated. Punching keys on the computer, he became even more enraged. "It's saying that she's losing blood, but there's no cuts!"
Understanding, Robin bolted to the door.
"Hey! Where you going?"
"To bring Raven back!"
Panting, he nudged Raven's door open. Stepping inside, he saw what he had been looking for.
Raven's mirror.
Picking it up, he waited. It sucked him in, five seconds later.
*****************************
Happy skipped around, humming to herself. She still missed Eclipse, but now he was fading into a pleasant memory. There was something wrong in the balance, but she hadn't run into anything yet, so, it was all good.
Seeing a handsomely familiar person up ahead, she started laughing. It was too perfect.
"Hi Robin!" She called merrily.
He saw her and did a double take. "Raven?"
"The one and only!" Then she laughed, remembering that there were others.
"Raven?" Robin asked suspiciously. That couldn't be the same girl who was dying downstairs. She was...too...too happy!
Giggling, the pink cloaked Raven stared up at him, her cheeks going red. "Wow, you're even cuter up close!"
His jaw dropped. "I'm...I'm what?"
She laughed. "I said you were even cuter up close! What's the matter? Don't take flattery?"
This was unbelievable. This couldn't be Raven. It was a clone made by Jinx to throw him off the track.
Then he remembered. Cyborg had told him once about what had happened after the whole Dr. Light attack. He and Beast Boy had snuck into Raven's room, and found a portal into her mind through her mirror. He knew that already, but he'd forgotten about the separate personalities.
Gathering his courage, he asked, "Where would I go to talk to...you?"
Happy stopped twirling, and blinked at him. "You mean, Raven, Raven?"
"Yeah"
She smiled and skipped the way he had came. "Follow me and I'll show you!"
Starting to sing, she led the way.
**********************
"There was a farmer who had a dog and BINGO was his name-o! B-I-N-GO! B-I-N- G-O! B-I-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-o!"
Robin groaned as the bubbly version of Raven started singing BINGO for the twenty third time. They had been walking for what seemed like ages, the scenery never changing from the rocky path and stark trees.
"I-N-GO! And *clap* -I-N-G-O was his name-o! Here we are!" Happy stopped her cheerful rhyme and smiled broadly at Robin. "The only door to the real Raven!"
He stared at the thick wooden door imbedded in the rock face.
"Go in!" Happy encouraged. Stepping closer, she kissed him on the cheek. "For luck" She winked.
Gaping at her, he was pulled in the door before he could react.
***************************** Raven was on her knees, surrounded by darkness. This was it. She was dying. All those nightmares...the endless stream...she rather she be killed now. Sensing someone else in the dream, she muttered, "Just get this over with"
"Raven?" Robin asked.
She didn't turn.
"Raven?" He asked again. "Raven, you've got to wake up. Don't let Jinx win"
Raven faced him warily. "Isn't this the part where you stab me with your Bo Staff?"
"No! Why would I do that?" Going to her side, he tried to help her up. "Raven, I'm not apart of your dream! You have to wake up!"
"You're another trick. You're just another part of my mind trying to make me see the truth." She stared straight ahead with hollow eyes. "Reflection's of my conscience. That's all you are" A glowing ring of power formed around her and started to lift her off the ground.
"No!" Grabbing her hand, he tried to pull her back. "Raven, you can't give in. Don't give in! We need you!" As a after thought he whispered, "I need you"
Somewhere, deep inside her, she heard. They needed her? She saw him, trying to save her, and it finally made sense.
The whirlwind died away, and Raven floated gently to the ground, still holding his hand.
He squeezed her hand tighter. Helping her up, he thought she looked...more her. More real.
"Don't ever, ever do that to me again" Robin ordered firmly. The Darkness around them faded, revealing bright whiteness.
"You cared?" Raven asked, surprised. The Boy Wonder nodded firmly. "Of course I did. More than you think"
She blushed.
********************
Cyborg turned to Robin as he walked through the door of the lab. "Whew, that was a close call. For a moment there, I thought we'd lost her"
Robin walked over to her bed and waited. Soon, her eyelids fluttered open, confused at first, but taking on an understanding when she saw him.
He smiled and to his amazement, she smiled right back.
***************************
Cyborg watched as Wonder Boy and Dark Girl just stood there, smiling at each other. Raven rarely smiled, but when she did, it always awed him. Slipping out of the room, he left the two alone.
AN: Now the real fun can begin...Hahhaha!