It wasn't necessary for them to give her the privileged Passenger's seat on the way home, but Raven did appreciate the car ride. By the time she and Robin had reached the rendezvous point, the night's battles had caught up to her.
Raven was spent: physically, mentally and emotionally.
Sleep sounds so good right about now…
{Hey sleepyhead!! Roll down the window, or I won't be responsible for what happens to the T-Car!}
Raven woke with a start. The car was idling at a stoplight; Cyborg looked at her anxiously.
"Sorry," She mumbled as she toggled the power window button.
Humor whooshed in and landed on her lap. As she finished closing the window, the soulbird pushed something from a closed talon into her hand.
{Keep these for me, 'kay?}
I guess so…
{I'm ready to go now. I submit my submission! }
I accept you.
---
Where was she?
Outside?
That was it—she was having an out of body experience.
Trouble was, so was Red.
Cyborg grabbed Red by the beak and chucked the giant chicken as far from the Doc as he could. Red flipped over in midair and shot right back at him.
{KillKillKill--}
Talons off Red--you'll ruin his finish!!
She grabbed Red by the neck and threw her wing over the other's eyes. She could hear others joining the fray.
She held on. If lives weren't hanging in the balance, the ride would be fun!
She squawked in surprise as a green tentacle snagged her and pulled her into the air. Three more tentacles latched onto Red.
{RELEASE ME!}
She watched as tentacle got too close to Red's beak.
Look out B.B.!
Too late--Red snapped at it.
The tentacle dropped her as Beast Boy morphed back into a human form, his finger in his mouth. She'd been ready though, and landed on her feet.
Red leaped at him. He gave a shriek and morphed into a giant green clam.
Red stabbed at the unyielding shell, then grabbed the clam and jumped into the air.
She was a wingbeat behind Sarge and Hot Lips in pursuit.
A Sonic Blast narrowly missed her.
Hey! I'm on your side!!
She knew that Red would drop B.B.—but how? Too high and he'd just morph into a flying creature; too low and it wouldn't phase him.
Unless Red powerdives him into the pavement…
B.B.'s green "marine", Sarge was practically dancing on Red's face. Hot Lips attacked Red's wings, in an effort to keep their altitude low.
She reached the underside of the clam. A quick mid-air twist, and she was hanging upside down.
She pecked at Red's talons.
This little piggy went to market…
Beast Boy suddenly morphed into a porcupine.
She smarted at the stab of quills and let go.
Red hollered in pain as well and dropped him.
She kept pace with him on the way down…
Now was a heckofa time to get shape block—
Pick something and wing it already!
The green porcupine flattened into a green flying squirrel.
Wahooooo!
As one, they pulled up out of the dive.
The squirrel morphed into a green eagle and climbed; she backwinged into a tree and landed gingerly on a branch next to Grumpy.
Two quills stuck out of her right talon.
Some fun, huh?
Grumpy fixed her with an orange glare then helped her with quill removal.
{Beast Boy's going to stay lucky for only so long, before he gets handed his head.}
Yeah, my thoughts exactly.
{Perhaps, someone should keep him preoccupied.}
Great idea! I'm glad I thought of It!
Quill-free, she leaped off the branch and into the air.
{Incorrigible pain in the--}
Where do I come up with these brilliant ideas?
She climbed above B.B. with ease.
Squadron leader, I'm beginning my attack run!
She folded her wings and dove at her prey, her target unaware.
Closer…
Closer…
SQUAAAK!!
---
"Mumph." Raven worked savagely to push down the bubbles of laughter threatening to rise.
The look on his face…
"Raven—what's wrong?"
She opened her eyes.
All of her friends wore looks of care and worry. Their anxiety and her own embarrassment finished the job.
Almost.
She tucked the green quills and eagle tail feather up her sleeve for safekeeping.
I have a book that I can press these into…
She settled back into her seat, feeling a ghost of a smile.
"Nothing, Beast Boy," she said as she drifted back to sleep.
"Nothing at all."