Masquerade Chapter 3: Talk Of The Past, a teen titans fanfic

Here. Read. Look.

Genre- drama/general

Disclaimer- I do not own Teen Titans.

Masquerade

Chapter 3- Talk Of The Past

"Raven, I will beat Slade, but I'm coming back. I promise."

Her dark, stormy eyes fluttered open, perceiving only darkness.

She felt the lingering statement echoing in her mind. She recognized the words, immediately shunning them away from her thoughts. She knew that could never happen. It hadn't happened, and it would never happen, not now, not ever.

She sighed heavily. "It was just a dream, like always." She felt her heartbeat drop to low thump.

"What was just a dream??"

Raven jerked her head violently towards the strangely familiar voice and unintentionally let out a shriek, which she instantly scolded herself for. She clamped a hand over her mouth.

A dark figure stood in front of her.

The Titan leader felt herself back up against the frame of the bed she lay on, not being able to back up any further. She tried her best to remain placid, regaining her much practiced composure. Her senses switched on full alert. A light chuckle resounded from the veiled stranger, amused at her reaction. "It's good to see that you're finally awake."

Raven narrowed her eyes angrily at his soft laughter and calm demeanor, especially when he had no reason not to fear her. Why hadn't she picked up his presence before? "…Who are you?"

He stepped forward into the dim lighting. He had medium-length, jet-black hair and handsomely angular features. He wore a taut, black costume, the blue-silvery silhouette of a bird outstretched across his muscular chest. A silver utility belt hung around his waist, as a v-shaped mask concealed his indistinctive eyes.

Even still, Raven discerned his undaunted gaze upon her. She felt herself blush. He stepped closer to her. Her pulse began to race. "Who are you?" She repeated the question, making him stop nearing her. She looked around the unfamiliar place. "And why am I here?"

For a moment, he remained silent, carefully contemplating his response.

"I'm... Nightwing. I found you unconscious, and I took you to my home."

Raven looked at him.

Even if she didn't know this guy very well, he seemed a bit... off, as if he wasn't acting like he usually would. Was he playing with her? She scoffed. She wouldn't let anyone, especially not a stranger, make her feel vulnerable nor unknowledgeable.

The dark girl smirked, her nerves calming and sarcasm back. "Do you want a medal or something?"

"No." Nightwing grinned at the sudden change of attitude. "I don't save people for the rewards."

"Justice, huh? So, are you like Batman or something? I don't remember a superhero in Gotham, except for him and-" The small smile left her face. "And Robin." The name left her lips, tasting unpleasantly bitter.

He frowned slightly. "…I'm kind of taking over for awhile." She broke out of her trance, glancing at him.

"So what happened to them?" Raven asked suspiciously.

"Batman's on the road to recovery." He looked at her. "But I don't know what happened to Robin." He lied.

"You don't know what happened to him?"

Nightwing shook his head grimly. "All I know is that he disappeared."

Raven nodded. "…Off the face of the earth…" She gave Nightwing a wistful look. She didn't know why, but this man seemed so… so unusually familiar, and yet so very… unfamiliar. Who was he, really? She had a gut feeling that she should not have anything to do with this man. He would only cause her trouble.

The dark girl moved her lifeless body, sitting on the edge of the bed. She held her head in her hands. Her head hurt. Looking up, there was a door in her view. She tried standing up, but she clutched the bed for support. Every bone in her body screamed...!!! It served her right for walking out in the cold for who knows how long.

Nightwing watched her every move. He smirked. "Maybe you should lie back down. You still seem a bit… wobbly."

Raven glared daggers at him. "I'm fine. Besides, I believe I've overstayed my welcome."

"You're welcome to stay here until you're feeling better."

She ignored him.

He sighed deeply. 'Why does she have to be so stubborn?'

Nightwing sat back, eyes on the dark-haired beauty.

Raven got up standing proudly on her feet, turning to him. She gave him an 'I-told-you-so' look.

However, her body didn't agree.

The dark girl felt her knees buckle as her rear broke the fall. The man before her stifled a laugh as she used the bed to get back up again. She sat back down on the cushiony layer, sending heated glares at her savior. If she wasn't so weak and if she knew where she was, she'd be able to teleport the hell out of here and have time to kick this guy's ass.

"Come on," He pleaded with a smug grin. He didn't want to get her any angrier. She might reenact the display he had seen earlier before. "Just relax."

"Relax, and do what?" She fumed.

"Why don't you tell me about your dream?" Nightwing sat on a nearby chair, lackadaisical.

Raven looked up at him coldly, her hard gaze burning imaginary holes into his head. He didn't seem to notice. She turned away from him, knowing what he didn't know. "You don't know what you're asking."

He stared at her curiously. "It's just a dream."

The dark girl exhaled noisily. "Do you know who I am?"

"…Raven, right?"

She looked at him in acknowledgment.

"How do you know that?"

"You're the leader of the renowned Teen Titans." He smirked shrewdly.

She continued, a little surprised. "And who was the leader before me?"

"Robin."

"And I became leader when he-"

"Robin left the Titans." He concluded quickly, not knowing where she was going with this. Nightwing stared at her in confusion. "What does this have to do with your dream?"

Raven fiddled with the sheets, sitting there under his questioning gaze uncomfortably. "…Do you know why Robin left the Titans?"

Nightwing feigned innocence. He shook his head. "No."

"Neither do I. But I was there with him. I was the last Titan to see him before he left."

He observed her quietly. Traces of sadness hindered her calm, beautiful features. She stared into the empty darkness. "I dream about it a lot." She gazed at him inconspicuously, hinting of what she meant.

That she had dreamt this dream.

"Are you sure you want to tell me this? After all, I'm only a stranger."

"You told me that you wanted to know." She shot him an irritated glare. "And besides, it doesn't matter. Like you said, you're only a stranger." She looked out the window. It was still visibly very dark outside.

'I'll be gone before the sun rises.' She thought.

Nightwing waited for her to continue, silence overcoming them both.

Raven began.

"Robin. Robin was our leader, and he was excellent at it, as if born to do so. He had all the qualities any great leader should have. He was strong, intelligent, and determined. He had an intense drive for justice, and he didn't do things for the glory but for the welfare of others."

Nightwing felt slightly uncomfortable.

"However, lately, I was angry at how he was acting. He was obsessed with a villain called Slade and he began neglecting us, his team, but most importantly, his friends." The male crime fighter flinched. Raven persisted. "One night, I saw him leaving. I wanted to talk to him about it, so I followed him. He asked me to come with him, and I thought I could make him come back, so I left with him."

A small, sad smile graced her face.

"When we finally got to where he intended, I immediately regretted it. We were at a criminal's pub, and he was after Slade, again." The name of Robin's enemy slithered out of her mouth like poison. "It was just another stupid strategy to track him down. I don't know why he took me with him." She paused momentarily. "And when I did try talking to him about what I planned to say, he either didn't listen to me or dodged the subject." A look of acerbic mirth stained her appearance. "And he dodged it in a very creative way. It was the first time I was introduced to alcohol. And then I got drunk. And that's all I clearly remember, except for waking up and finding that everything had changed." Raven wanted to keep everything else to herself, the invisible tears slipping down her porcelain-like face. He was just a stranger. That's all he needed to know, and that's all she was willing to say. "That's it."

"That's it?" Nightwing questioned the brevity.

Raven nodded.

"You don't remember anything else?"

She shook her head.

"Are you sure?"

"No! I don't." She snapped, looking very annoyed. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I don't think you're telling me the whole story." Nightwing stared at her confidently. The dark girl remained silent. "So, what happened the next day?"

"I woke up," Raven said sarcastically, in a way that spoke 'duhhhhhh'.

He held back his frustration. "Did anything unusual happen, anything at all??"

The subject began to tire Raven, but she answered anyway. "I didn't know where I was and Robin left. That's all." The dark girl looked out the window with a bored expression on her face. The sky was still blue, beginning to brighten.

"And Slade?"

"No one knows what happened to him. He hasn't attacked us since. It's like he disappeared..." Her words faded away. She raised an inquisitive eye towards him. He walked into a quiet hush. "So, are you done questioning me?"

Nightwing nodded solemnly.

Raven didn't recollect much at all, though it had been quite a long time ago. And no one knew what had happened to Slade. However, though disquietingly, a part of him had hoped that she could remember what had transpired between the Boy Wonder and herself, or at least recognized his true identity. But then again, maybe it was best that she didn't know.

She looked at the masked figure curiously. He looked as if he was thinking of something of some significance. She pointed her index finger directly towards his laid-back form, chanting three magical words. "Azerath. Metrion. Zinthos." All of a sudden, Nightwing became airborne. Oddly, he didn't jolt out of surprise. He calmly sat in midair within the clutches of her black spell. Raven watched her supernatural powers as they worked at their average degree. She then looked at the princely figure, studying her. She flushed slightly, gently putting him down. "I think I'm feeling better now." The mysterious Titan leader pushed herself away from the bed and stood on two feet. "I guess I should go."

Nightwing gave her a genuine smile. "Let me show you out." He opened the door for her.

She mumbled a 'thanks', a light pink tingeing her cheeks.

"You live in Wayne Manor?"

Raven and Nightwing stood in awe of the enormous mansion.

Her savior gazed at her, enjoying the look of astonishment on her face. "Yehp. Good Old Wayne Manor."

Raven sighed. The sky kept getting lighter and lighter. She glanced at the masked man standing next to her. It was weird. It felt so bizarrely... comforting, to be near him.

'Comforting?' She thought to herself in a dribble of outrage and confusion. 'This man is a stranger. I know nothing about him, and he is nowhere near remotely relieving. He questioned me about my past and brought back unwanted memories.'

But it felt good to at least tell someone...

"Well, um, thanks, for everything." She sputtered. She pulled her hood over her head and returned to the safe refuge inside herself, her cold, detached mask slipping properly over her somewhat lenient expression. "But I best be going."

Nightwing wanted to say something to stop her from leaving. He was just getting used to her company… once again. "Are you sure you don't want me to guide you back?"

An unexpected iciness extended from her tone. "I don't need your help. I can find my way back from here."

He felt slightly surprised at the change, but then again, his Raven always acted in unforeseen ways.

"See ya later." He whispered into the wind, as he watched her disappear into the foggy atmosphere.

This wouldn't be the last of this stranger.

Raven couldn't help but feel bugged as she trudged into the early, early morning.

It was as if she missed an extremely important detail.

'Nightwing.' She pondered carelessly, pushing the judgment aside.

Their conversation, instead, penetrated her mind, replacing her previous thoughts.

"So, what happened the next day?"

He wouldn't have understood.

…if he knew how she felt.

Flashback

Her eye lids felt as if they'd fall off if she opened her eyes. A younger Raven groaned in discomfort. Once she regained a bit of consciousness, a searing pain shot through her body. Ugh. She immediately ran towards the bathroom and lifted the toilet seat up. She threw her head near the opening and vomited all of the rancid contents forcing up through her throat, smelling repulsively of acetone.

Suddenly, her door slammed open.

"RAVEN! GOOD MORNING! TODAY IS A GLORIOUS DAY!!!"

Starfire's voice reverberated through Raven's ears into excruciating vibrations throughout her body. Raven covered her ears in pain. "Starfire, would you keep it down." She spoke in a low whisper.

"FRIEND RAVEN, ARE YOU NOT WELL?"

"please, Starfire, quiet down."

"RAVEN I CANNOT HEAR YOU!"

"quiet."

"WHAT!?"

"STARFIRE BE QUIET!!!"

"Oh, sorry. I just came to greet you a great day." Starfire spoke nonchalantly.

"Thanks, Star, but I really don't feel good. Please just leave me alone."

"Oh, of course." Starfire quietly opened the door then, SLAM…!!!

Pain streamed once again throughout her limp form.

'Damn it, Star.' She cursed mentally.

Raven tried ignoring the unbearable wrench in her stomach, but the regurgitation of fluids stopped her from forgetting. Plus, her head was hurting very, very badly. Why did she feel so ill? And why did she feel like she just wanted to die right there and then?

The dark girl got up from the toilet when she finished spitting out the remnants. 'I need to find something to get rid of the pain.'

Raven climbed down the stairs feebly, hanging on the railing for dear life. She felt her body go limp and her hands let go of the banister. She waited to tumble down the stairs ungracefully. However, instead, she felt a pair of strong powerful arms catch her useless self.

"Rae, are you okay?" Cyborg's friendly, worried voice reached her ears painfully.

Why wouldn't everyone just speak a little softer?

The dark teenager struggled to open her eyes. "I'm fine. I just need some water… and something to get rid of the pounding in my head."

Cyborg pinched his nose in disgust, his friend having very bad breath. He stared at her carefully. "Raven…" She was paler than usual and smelled lightly of smoke. He recognized the scent of booze, emanating from her lungs. "Did you drink last night, or something?"

She paused warily. "What if I did?"

He looked at her with sympathy. Drinking? Raven didn't seem like the type to get drunk, and by the looks of it, she got hammered pretty badly. He sighed. "Rae, stay in your room. I'll bring you some water and aspirin… Is that okay with you?"

Raven nodded, not realizing she was letting someone enter her room… with her permission. All she felt was her head swirling in circles.

"Maybe I should take you to your room first."

Cyborg took her fully in his arms and carried her to safety.

"Are you feeling better?"

"A little." Raven responded quietly. The half empty glass of water and aspirin container stood on the nightstand beside her.

The huge amounts of searing pain had turned into smaller, spaced portions of unbearable aching. She looked at Cyborg. Inside, she was glad that he was there. She'd like to say it, but the control over her emotions only let her do so much. "Thanks." She whispered to him.

"No problem." Cyborg grinned at her. "Glad to help."

Raven closed her eyes wearily.

"You should rest now." His voice trailed away.

She heard the close of a door before she was enveloped in darkness.

'Robin? Robin??'

'Where are you???'

It was so dark, so unbearably dark.

She felt so frustrated, tears accumulating in the corner of her eyes.

'Raven!'

She turned around, a light in her view.

Robin.

She quickly ran towards the light, beginning to fade away.

'Wait! Robin!'

Her eyes never left the blinding light. He looked like an angel, outlined by the exuberant brightness. He had that smile on his face, the smile that made her heart melt. And everything… seemed right.

The light, the light was going away and it was as if, she was standing in place.

Then it completely evaporated, his voice departing with it.

It was dark again.

It had been futile. It had been futile from the start.

She could never tell him. She could never say…

She sunk low to her knees.

The tears fell.

Raven woke up in the darkness, her heart thumping faster than usual.

'Robin.'

She had just remembered. How could she possibly forget!?!

She jumped out of bed. Her legs carried her as fast as she could to her destination, her heartbeat beating like a drum. The sound of rushing water blasted in her ears, her nerves shot and eyes small. Her diminutive headache was far from her thoughts.

Finally, she stopped.

The dark girl stood in front of the steel door, shakily pushing it open.

A soft light met her eyes, placed in the center of the room. Newspapers and criminal cutouts littered the floor, walls, and ceiling. A small working table fell right under the light, revealing master plans and unfinished ideas.

He wasn't there.

'It can't be.' She thought defiantly.

She stepped back unsteadily from the room. She ran out the door, down the stairs. She would find him. He was here. He had to be. He couldn't have-

No.

Raven darted through the kitchen, from the living room, to the game room, to the training area, and to the main hall. She ran back all the way to the roof of the tower and surveyed the area surroundings. There was nothing, the place quiet.

The tower was draped in a mist, feeling humid and sticky. It was dark, feeling lonely, as if she was the only one on the planet realizing something was wrong. Did the others know? Did they still believe that he was working in his room?

Was he with one of them?

The small shard of hope gleamed at her, and she accepted it. Raven teleported into Starfire's room. Though it would be very unacceptable for him to be sleeping in her room, it proved to be a definite option. The jealous part of her prayed that he wasn't there. Starfire lay backwards on her bed, her feet on the pillow and her head on the edge of the end. She snored deafeningly, but the dead thud pounding in Raven's ears blocked it out.

He wasn't there.

She sighed and teleported into Cyborg's room. His battery was charging and his eyes were closed peacefully. And he was cuddling close to, a teddy bear?

What the hell?

Raven quickly came over the surprise and noticed no signs of the Boy Wonder, only beeps and buzzes of the super computer. She then transported lastly to Beast Boy's room.

The hope she brought began to fall.

Beast Boy slept soundly. Drool fell like a waterfall from the side of his mouth. The room was covered in pictures of himself and posters of famous comedians. Raven just watched in silence, her body going numb, the world revolving as she stood still. She dropped to her knees, an overwhelming sadness beginning to rise in her soul. Her head dropped down and she fell to the floor.

She didn't cry though. All she could feel was the unending sorrow. But just this once, she wished that she could cry, to be able to release the pain repeatedly stabbing her heart. Because-

She knew…

She knew that he was gone. Before, she would at least have been a bit more optimistic, but a part of her just knew. He wasn't coming back. And she didn't do anything about it. She didn't have a say in the matter.

"Raven?" A weary voice asked.

She couldn't hear him though.

He called her name again. A looked of worry passed over his face. He ran over to her. "Hey, are you okay?" Beast Boy observed her expression. He had never seen her look that way before. "What's wrong?"

Her voice was listless and hushed.

"He's… gone."

As the days gone by slowly, what had occurred that night had made itself known. More and more, the words that were said and the gestures that were made became clear in her head. The fight that had been fought and Slade's voice drifted into her psyche. The feelings that were mentioned and the feelings that had been acted upon walked into her mind. And the promises that were made and the words that needed to be voiced never were heard.

She was embarrassed at how she acted, upset at what had happened, and angry that he had left and broke a promise in the process.

How could he? How could she? How dare he? Why?

Just, why?

She didn't understand, and if she didn't, the others wouldn't understand either.

This was her secret, and her burden to carry alone.

/Flashback

Raven realized that now she was back at where she had started, at the threshold of Titans Tower.

She walked in.

The sun rose.

(Stop)

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Okay, okay.

Everything's a little gloomy. But I'm getting to the main reason I wrote this story. ROMANCE!

Hope you liked this chapter!

Next Chappie?- Shhhhh… it's a secret.

Constructive criticism is needed and well accepted. Reviews are much needed! And ideas are wanted.

Cya

Later peoples!