Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, nor do I own any associated intellectual property.
Review Responses:
Snowy: I'm glad my writing can affect someone enough to drive them to tears. Hopefully this chapter is as well written.
The Big Fisch: Glad you like the way I portray Raven. She's an interesting character. She's torn in two, between her want to do good, and her demonic heritage. That comes out more in this chapter.
Ravenn03: I have never heard that song. I don't really listen to music much. I'm glad the story is entertaining, however.
CatQueen13: Thanks! I read your story. I left a review, please don't it as a flame, it's all constructive criticism. I can see that you have talent, you just need to spend a bit longer on each chapter, correcting errors and lengthening it.
A/N: And now, on to the fic.
......................................................................
A Woman Scorned
......................................................................
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." - The Mourning Bride, William Congreve.
......................................................................
Terra snuck quietly down the long dark hallway. Robin's word still rung in her ears, that Raven was having a hard time recently, and that she needed to be alone today. Although there was no official leader of the Titans, Robin had made the request as close to an order as he could.
Still, Terra couldn't push Beastboy's face out of her mind ever. When Robin had made that announcement, Beastboy had stopped smiling, and looked deep in thought. When she'd asked if he was ok, he'd smiled and nodded, but his smile was fake. Terra knew that Beastboy was probably the person on the team that talked to Raven the most, but she didn't realize how much Raven's condition affected him.
Terra stood in front of Raven's door. There was a wierd sense of forboding about it. She walked past it all the time, everyone besides her had a room past this door. But still, there was something strange about the door today.
"Come on Terra. You can do it. She's creepy, but you can go and find out what's wrong. Maybe this is just the chance you need, y'know?" She whispered to herself, trying to connvince herself to knock. "I mean, she's never really liked you, maybe if you help her get back on her feet from whatever happened, she'll be a little warmer to you."
Terra looked both ways down the hallway. No one else was here. The rest of the group was outside, training on the course that she'd run her first day here. She'd made an excuse that she was going to go use the bathroom, and she had already taken a little long. She sighed, consigning herself to go ahead and knock, so that she'd at least have some time alone with Raven before everyone figured out what she'd done.
She lightly knocked on the metal door, jumping as the small sound echoed in the silent hallway, sounding as loud as gunshots to her ears. She heard muttering from inside the room, though she couldn't make out the words. A few seconds later, the door slid open quickly.
Raven looked exactly as she always did. Her short, purple hair hung just past her jawline, her cold purple eyes stared into Terra's. The black leather costume and heavy blue cloak all were exactly the same. Terra tried to smile and say hello, but for some reason she couldn't talk. A few awkward seconds of silence passed.
Raven's face changed slightly, her eyebrows furrowing and her eyes gleaming with anger. "Which of them sent YOU here?"
Terra's voice came out as a squeak. "Wha... What do you mean?"
Raven's features darkened further. "I told Robin that I didn't want to see anyone today. Beastboy should know better than to have you talk to me. Who told you to come up here?"
Terra swallowed hard. Something about the pale, glaring woman in front of her had her absolutely terrified. She could hardly even stand there, much less speak. Somehow she managed a few words. "I thought maybe... that you maybe need to talk... to someone."
Raven's face softened slightly, but her eyes still burned into Terra's. Terra suddenly felt a little strange, her mind was running over her time at the training ground, all the way up through the tower. She didn't understand why she was remembering this. Finally, Raven's eyes softened just enough that Terra felt like her heart would keep pumping.
"You are telling the truth, aren't you?" It sounded more like a statement than a question. "Come in, we can talk."
Raven stepped to the side of the door, allowing Terra to take a few cautious steps into the dimly lit room. Terra had never been in here before, and looked around with wide eyes. She jumped as the door closed, and the buzzing signified a lock.
"Sit." Raven commanded simply. Terra looked around, and finding nothing else, sat down on a small, hard chair next to Raven's bed. Raven sat in a lotus position on her bed, looking like she was about to begin meditating. There was a silence again in the room as the two women looked at eachother.
"You wanted to talk. Say something." Raven's voice was cold and harsh. Terra didn't understand why Raven was being so hostile, but did her best to remain calm, and not to get angry or frightened.
"Well, I guess the reason I came up here was that Robin told us you didn't to see anyone. I mean, that's not the reason, but it led to it. Beastboy, he looked really weird when Robin said that. He's really concerned about you, at least, I think he is, and I wanted to come up here and see if I could make you feel better."
Raven closed her eyes for a moment, and her lips were moving. Terra couldn't make out what she was saying. She repeated the same phrase a few times, and then opened her eyes again. When she spoke, her voice was much calmer.
"Beastboy is a good friend to me, Terra. He's concerned because I've had a rough few days. He'll be fine."
Terra nodded. "Well, what about you? Will you be fine?"
Raven's look changed slightly. She had obviously not expected the question. A few seconds passed, and Raven seemed to be thinking. "I think that I will be. You can tell him that if you want."
Terra suddenly remembered something. "Oh, you weren't there when I told the others. Beastboy and I are dating now. Did he tell you?"
Raven's eyes grew icy once more, her stare unnerving Terra. "I knew."
Terra couldn't help but be annoyed by Raven's cold, almost angry reaction. "What's wrong with that? You don't have to get so angry!"
Terra froze with fear as Raven's eyes glowed slightly red, and the air in the room cooled several degrees. Raven's voice sounded darker, nearly evil.
"Pray that you never see me angry, girl. Pray that if you do, I will spare your tainted soul."
Terra couldn't move as Raven's eyes burned into her. She'd never seen Raven act so emotional. Her heart was beating faster and faster, her entire frame paralyzed with terror. Raven began to hover off the bed, still in the lotus position. Her eyes glowed brighter, and the room got still colder.
"Pray for your life, traitor. Pray to whatever god you serve that I will not crush your body where you sit."
Terra's body grew black as a strange pressure began to hold her to the spot. Terra tried to move, but was held fast by the dark aura. Terra felt her mind move quickly, remembering the date with Beastboy, the training area yesterday where she kissed him, the goodnight kiss, this morning's hugs and laughter. Raven's grip on her body tightened, and she felt her breath get forced out of her lungs. Raven's voice had an otherwordly sound, a strange echo following it. It was not her own.
"Pray that your death is quicker than his will be. Pray that my rage consumes me. Pray that-" A knocking on the door silenced the voice.
"Open the door, Raven! You dont' want to do this!" It was Robin. Terra tried to shout out to him, but she couldn't speak, she couldn't even breathe. Raven's grip remained strong, though it didn't get tighter. Raven seemed to be struggling with herself over something. Terra's eyesight started to dim.
"Please Raven! Don't let him win!" Robin's voice sounded desperate. Terra felt herself slipping, as she saw stars and colors on the edge of her vision. Her head felt dizzy and cloudy. She could hardly think. She felt Raven's grip slip slightly. Not enough... Not enough...
The explosion from the door sounded very distant to Terra. She heard Robin shouting, Raven's new deep voice responding. As her vision faded, she saw Robin hit Raven's neck hard on the side, chopping with his hand. She saw Raven fall to the floor, and felt the bonds around her body dissapate. Too late... It was too late...
......................................................................
Terra awoke slowly. Her mind felt thick, she couldn't think properly. She opened her eyes, seeing only colored blurs at first.
"She is awaking! Please, friends! Come here!"
A voice. Starfire? Terra couldn't remember who Starfire was. Everything was so hazy.
"Terra, come on! Wake up! Fight it!"
A male voice. Robin? Was it Robin talking to her? Her vision swam.
"C'mon Terra. Please. You have to wake up."
A spark inside her. Beastboy. She had to wake up, for Beastboy.
Terra felt the fog in her mind clear slowly, and her vision as well. She saw the faces of her friends, the Titans. Her mind cleared more, and she recognized the Titan's medical bay, rarely used. She coughed suddenly, her chest felt tight. The faces smiled.
"There you are. How are you feelin', Terra?" Cyborg. Another friendly voice.
Finally, her mind cleared enough to allow speech. She focused hard, wanting to assure everyone that she'd be ok. Only a few scattered words came out. "Raven... Where? How did I?"
Terra felt her body recover slightly. Her mind cleared a little more, helped by the reassuring touches of her teammates. Her eyesight returned, finally she could see the concern on everyone's face.
"Don't worry about her. Just focus on recovering." Robin's voice was a command, but she felt inspired. He was good at that.
"What happened to me? I remember talking to Raven about... something." Terra's mind still couldn't focus on the previous events.
"You've been unconscious for three hours. Oxygen deprivation. You'll be fine in a while. Just try to stay awake." Cyborg spoke with concern, but assurance as well.
Terra felt Beastboy's touch on her arm. "You shouldn't have gone to Raven's room. Robin told us all to stay away from her."
Terra's mind slowly processed everything being said. "I went to talk to her. I was hoping that I could help her feel better."
Beastboy looked sad. "Robin stopped her. She's recovering in her room. It took a lot out of her as well."
"It? What did I do to her? I don't remember fighting." Terra's mind scanned itself, trying to remember what had happened.
"You didn't do anything, Terra." Robin's voice was tinged with self-hatred. As if he blamed himself for slipping. "Raven is a little unstable recently. You just said some things that maybe shouldn't have been said."
Cyborg spoke up. "Robin, Terra will be fine. I think it's time you went and talked to Rae."
Starfire looked worried. "Will you be allright? Raven is a dangerous person today, it may be foolish to approach her."
Robin's features were grim. "I have to try, Starfire. She'll talk to me. You all stay here and take care of Terra. Under no circumstances is anyone to come to Raven's room, no matter how long I'm in there. Do you understand me?"
Despite his commanding tone, and the arrogance inherent in ordering your peers around, there was no dissent. "We'll stay here, man. You just get Raven under control." Cyborg spoke for the team.
Terra's voice was still weak as she called out to Robin. "Tell her I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean to hurt her."
Robin looked sad, then turned to leave the room silently.
......................................................................
The door opened, and Raven stood before him, looking the same as she always had. Her face, however, showed concern, and fear. She stepped to the side as Robin walked angrily into the room. The door hissed shut. There was no sound besides Robin's heavy breathing. He felt Raven's hand on his shoulder.
He turned, and she removed her hand. She looked at his angry features, her face fearful of repercussions. She spoke quietly. "Is she ok?"
Robin nodded, almost imperceptibly. "She will be. You didn't injure her permanently. Had I taken another minute to realize where she'd gone, however..."
Raven seemed to be taken aback. She stepped backwards slightly, her hands moving upwards as if to guard herself. Robin realized that his hands were balled into fists. He tried to calm himself. Anger wasn't going to help this, Raven already felt bad for what she had done.
"Tell her that I'm sorry. Tell everyone that I'm sorry. She didn't deserve what I did to her." Raven's voice sounded small and frightened. Robin wanted to help her, but could still only feel angry.
"Saying your sorry doesn't change what you did, Raven. She could have been killed. You allowed your anger to take control of you." Robin tried to control his own anger. He had to forgive her. It wasn't Raven that did this. It wasn't her fault.
Raven backed away from him, terrified. "Robin... Robin, you said you'd help me. Well I need help now."
Robin advanced on her, his face angry. "You needed help earlier. You needed help when Terra was here. Why did you even let her in?"
"I... She wanted to talk. I thought talking to her might help calm me." Raven's back was against a wall. Robin stepped forward, a look of grim determination on his face.
"Raven, I need to know what can be done to stop him. To stop him forever." He stared down at the pale girl, his features twisted in anger and hatred. He was trying to keep Raven and Trigon seperate, but he was failing. Traitors did not deserve mercy, and he couldn't see her as anything besides a traitor.
Raven's voice could hardly be heard. "Stop him... forever?" Her voice grew a little louder. "You would have to swear to me now, that you will do anything I ask of you."
Robin gritted his teeth, speaking through his clenched jaw. "Anything."
Raven's eyes had tears in them. Her voice was steady, however. "Kill me."
Robin's anger suddenly faltered. "Be serious. This isn't a joking matter."
"Killing me is the only way, Robin. You know you could do it. It would take you less than a second. Just snap my neck, you have the strength. You know how to do it."
Robin felt his anger melt into worry. "There's another way. There has to be."
Raven's features were set. "There isn't. You can't kill him, he's immortal. As long as I live, he has power over me. The only way to stop him forever is to destroy the flesh that he created."
Robin reached forward, putting his hand around her neck, feeling the bone inside. She was right, just a twist here, done correctly, would kill her. Batman hadn't taught him the motion required. He'd done his own research, knowing that sometimes incapacitating an enemy wasn't enough. He felt her pulse, slow and steady, through his gloves.
Her eyes were closed. She seemed at peace, ready for the rest of death. He moved his hand slightly, thinking about his options. She was a danger. She was a menace, not only to the Titans, but to humanity in general. He would be helping the world if he'd just do it.
He thought about Starfire. About Beastboy, Cyborg, and Terra. What would they see? They would see him as killing her out of vengeance. Nothing would prove otherwise. His grip loosened, and he put his hand back at his side.
"No. There's another way. There has to be."
Raven opened her eyes. They stared coldly at him. "There is no other way. Do it."
He stared back at her, concerned only for her well being. "Don't get angry, Raven. Stay calm, and just think."
Raven was silent for a moment. "I'll try. In the meantime..." Raven's voice faltered, she sounded hurt and lost. "Can you stay here? Can you please just stay here with me?" Raven looked like she was about to collapse.
Robin carefully picked her up, and walked over to her bed. He sat down, and she sat on his lap, her arms around his neck, and her face against his shoulder. He felt the sobs wrack her body, as she cried again. He knew that her sadness about Beastboy wasn't causing this. She'd lost control.
Robin knew how it felt to be controlled. Slade had controlled him during the cronoton detonator mission. He knew the helplessness, the pain of being unable to affect your own destiny. He knew that it could tear you apart. He knew that she struggled with that feeling every day.
Robin held her close to him as she cried. He didn't mind being her shoulder to cry on. He knew it wouldn't last long. Either she would get her emotions under control, or he would have to find a way to stop her dark side. If that meant killing her... then that was the only option.
She'd stopped crying. She was simply laying against him, her face towards his neck. He felt her small body on his lap. She seemed so weak, as if the day's outburst had diminished her in some way. He couldn't help but pity her. She didn't deserve the hell that her life had to be.
He felt her breath on his neck as she spoke. "I'm going to need your help soon. If you don't kill me, you'll have to fight him. Through the looking glass."
Robin nodded, still holding her. "I know. I can't do it alone."
Raven's arms tightened around him. She seemed to shrink at the realization. "I'll have to let everyone in. Even him. Even her."
Robin nodded. "Will you be able to do it?"
Raven didn't respond for a few seconds. He felt a fear grip him. If she couldn't do it, how would he kill her? How could he even bring himself to do it?
"I will. If you defeat him, if we all defeat him, I can keep him under control."
Robin hugged her close to him, then stood, sitting her on her bed. "I'm going to go try to convince the team to fight. Will you be ready when I get back?"
Raven nodded.
Robin left the room. Today would be a day of reckoning. He hoped it wouldn't be the last day of Raven's life. He grimaced.
He hoped it wouldn't be the last day of humanity.
......................................................................
A/N: I know it's cliché to have a battle with Trigon, but it's required, since Raven is out of control of her emotions. I also know that she's coming across as a bit of a crybaby, but she can't help it. Getting cheated on sucks. In the next chapter, it's a journey through Raven's shattered mind, as the team tries to find it's way to Trigon. Raven can no longer help them, and it's do or die. See you tomorrow.
Review Responses:
Snowy: I'm glad my writing can affect someone enough to drive them to tears. Hopefully this chapter is as well written.
The Big Fisch: Glad you like the way I portray Raven. She's an interesting character. She's torn in two, between her want to do good, and her demonic heritage. That comes out more in this chapter.
Ravenn03: I have never heard that song. I don't really listen to music much. I'm glad the story is entertaining, however.
CatQueen13: Thanks! I read your story. I left a review, please don't it as a flame, it's all constructive criticism. I can see that you have talent, you just need to spend a bit longer on each chapter, correcting errors and lengthening it.
A/N: And now, on to the fic.
......................................................................
A Woman Scorned
......................................................................
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." - The Mourning Bride, William Congreve.
......................................................................
Terra snuck quietly down the long dark hallway. Robin's word still rung in her ears, that Raven was having a hard time recently, and that she needed to be alone today. Although there was no official leader of the Titans, Robin had made the request as close to an order as he could.
Still, Terra couldn't push Beastboy's face out of her mind ever. When Robin had made that announcement, Beastboy had stopped smiling, and looked deep in thought. When she'd asked if he was ok, he'd smiled and nodded, but his smile was fake. Terra knew that Beastboy was probably the person on the team that talked to Raven the most, but she didn't realize how much Raven's condition affected him.
Terra stood in front of Raven's door. There was a wierd sense of forboding about it. She walked past it all the time, everyone besides her had a room past this door. But still, there was something strange about the door today.
"Come on Terra. You can do it. She's creepy, but you can go and find out what's wrong. Maybe this is just the chance you need, y'know?" She whispered to herself, trying to connvince herself to knock. "I mean, she's never really liked you, maybe if you help her get back on her feet from whatever happened, she'll be a little warmer to you."
Terra looked both ways down the hallway. No one else was here. The rest of the group was outside, training on the course that she'd run her first day here. She'd made an excuse that she was going to go use the bathroom, and she had already taken a little long. She sighed, consigning herself to go ahead and knock, so that she'd at least have some time alone with Raven before everyone figured out what she'd done.
She lightly knocked on the metal door, jumping as the small sound echoed in the silent hallway, sounding as loud as gunshots to her ears. She heard muttering from inside the room, though she couldn't make out the words. A few seconds later, the door slid open quickly.
Raven looked exactly as she always did. Her short, purple hair hung just past her jawline, her cold purple eyes stared into Terra's. The black leather costume and heavy blue cloak all were exactly the same. Terra tried to smile and say hello, but for some reason she couldn't talk. A few awkward seconds of silence passed.
Raven's face changed slightly, her eyebrows furrowing and her eyes gleaming with anger. "Which of them sent YOU here?"
Terra's voice came out as a squeak. "Wha... What do you mean?"
Raven's features darkened further. "I told Robin that I didn't want to see anyone today. Beastboy should know better than to have you talk to me. Who told you to come up here?"
Terra swallowed hard. Something about the pale, glaring woman in front of her had her absolutely terrified. She could hardly even stand there, much less speak. Somehow she managed a few words. "I thought maybe... that you maybe need to talk... to someone."
Raven's face softened slightly, but her eyes still burned into Terra's. Terra suddenly felt a little strange, her mind was running over her time at the training ground, all the way up through the tower. She didn't understand why she was remembering this. Finally, Raven's eyes softened just enough that Terra felt like her heart would keep pumping.
"You are telling the truth, aren't you?" It sounded more like a statement than a question. "Come in, we can talk."
Raven stepped to the side of the door, allowing Terra to take a few cautious steps into the dimly lit room. Terra had never been in here before, and looked around with wide eyes. She jumped as the door closed, and the buzzing signified a lock.
"Sit." Raven commanded simply. Terra looked around, and finding nothing else, sat down on a small, hard chair next to Raven's bed. Raven sat in a lotus position on her bed, looking like she was about to begin meditating. There was a silence again in the room as the two women looked at eachother.
"You wanted to talk. Say something." Raven's voice was cold and harsh. Terra didn't understand why Raven was being so hostile, but did her best to remain calm, and not to get angry or frightened.
"Well, I guess the reason I came up here was that Robin told us you didn't to see anyone. I mean, that's not the reason, but it led to it. Beastboy, he looked really weird when Robin said that. He's really concerned about you, at least, I think he is, and I wanted to come up here and see if I could make you feel better."
Raven closed her eyes for a moment, and her lips were moving. Terra couldn't make out what she was saying. She repeated the same phrase a few times, and then opened her eyes again. When she spoke, her voice was much calmer.
"Beastboy is a good friend to me, Terra. He's concerned because I've had a rough few days. He'll be fine."
Terra nodded. "Well, what about you? Will you be fine?"
Raven's look changed slightly. She had obviously not expected the question. A few seconds passed, and Raven seemed to be thinking. "I think that I will be. You can tell him that if you want."
Terra suddenly remembered something. "Oh, you weren't there when I told the others. Beastboy and I are dating now. Did he tell you?"
Raven's eyes grew icy once more, her stare unnerving Terra. "I knew."
Terra couldn't help but be annoyed by Raven's cold, almost angry reaction. "What's wrong with that? You don't have to get so angry!"
Terra froze with fear as Raven's eyes glowed slightly red, and the air in the room cooled several degrees. Raven's voice sounded darker, nearly evil.
"Pray that you never see me angry, girl. Pray that if you do, I will spare your tainted soul."
Terra couldn't move as Raven's eyes burned into her. She'd never seen Raven act so emotional. Her heart was beating faster and faster, her entire frame paralyzed with terror. Raven began to hover off the bed, still in the lotus position. Her eyes glowed brighter, and the room got still colder.
"Pray for your life, traitor. Pray to whatever god you serve that I will not crush your body where you sit."
Terra's body grew black as a strange pressure began to hold her to the spot. Terra tried to move, but was held fast by the dark aura. Terra felt her mind move quickly, remembering the date with Beastboy, the training area yesterday where she kissed him, the goodnight kiss, this morning's hugs and laughter. Raven's grip on her body tightened, and she felt her breath get forced out of her lungs. Raven's voice had an otherwordly sound, a strange echo following it. It was not her own.
"Pray that your death is quicker than his will be. Pray that my rage consumes me. Pray that-" A knocking on the door silenced the voice.
"Open the door, Raven! You dont' want to do this!" It was Robin. Terra tried to shout out to him, but she couldn't speak, she couldn't even breathe. Raven's grip remained strong, though it didn't get tighter. Raven seemed to be struggling with herself over something. Terra's eyesight started to dim.
"Please Raven! Don't let him win!" Robin's voice sounded desperate. Terra felt herself slipping, as she saw stars and colors on the edge of her vision. Her head felt dizzy and cloudy. She could hardly think. She felt Raven's grip slip slightly. Not enough... Not enough...
The explosion from the door sounded very distant to Terra. She heard Robin shouting, Raven's new deep voice responding. As her vision faded, she saw Robin hit Raven's neck hard on the side, chopping with his hand. She saw Raven fall to the floor, and felt the bonds around her body dissapate. Too late... It was too late...
......................................................................
Terra awoke slowly. Her mind felt thick, she couldn't think properly. She opened her eyes, seeing only colored blurs at first.
"She is awaking! Please, friends! Come here!"
A voice. Starfire? Terra couldn't remember who Starfire was. Everything was so hazy.
"Terra, come on! Wake up! Fight it!"
A male voice. Robin? Was it Robin talking to her? Her vision swam.
"C'mon Terra. Please. You have to wake up."
A spark inside her. Beastboy. She had to wake up, for Beastboy.
Terra felt the fog in her mind clear slowly, and her vision as well. She saw the faces of her friends, the Titans. Her mind cleared more, and she recognized the Titan's medical bay, rarely used. She coughed suddenly, her chest felt tight. The faces smiled.
"There you are. How are you feelin', Terra?" Cyborg. Another friendly voice.
Finally, her mind cleared enough to allow speech. She focused hard, wanting to assure everyone that she'd be ok. Only a few scattered words came out. "Raven... Where? How did I?"
Terra felt her body recover slightly. Her mind cleared a little more, helped by the reassuring touches of her teammates. Her eyesight returned, finally she could see the concern on everyone's face.
"Don't worry about her. Just focus on recovering." Robin's voice was a command, but she felt inspired. He was good at that.
"What happened to me? I remember talking to Raven about... something." Terra's mind still couldn't focus on the previous events.
"You've been unconscious for three hours. Oxygen deprivation. You'll be fine in a while. Just try to stay awake." Cyborg spoke with concern, but assurance as well.
Terra felt Beastboy's touch on her arm. "You shouldn't have gone to Raven's room. Robin told us all to stay away from her."
Terra's mind slowly processed everything being said. "I went to talk to her. I was hoping that I could help her feel better."
Beastboy looked sad. "Robin stopped her. She's recovering in her room. It took a lot out of her as well."
"It? What did I do to her? I don't remember fighting." Terra's mind scanned itself, trying to remember what had happened.
"You didn't do anything, Terra." Robin's voice was tinged with self-hatred. As if he blamed himself for slipping. "Raven is a little unstable recently. You just said some things that maybe shouldn't have been said."
Cyborg spoke up. "Robin, Terra will be fine. I think it's time you went and talked to Rae."
Starfire looked worried. "Will you be allright? Raven is a dangerous person today, it may be foolish to approach her."
Robin's features were grim. "I have to try, Starfire. She'll talk to me. You all stay here and take care of Terra. Under no circumstances is anyone to come to Raven's room, no matter how long I'm in there. Do you understand me?"
Despite his commanding tone, and the arrogance inherent in ordering your peers around, there was no dissent. "We'll stay here, man. You just get Raven under control." Cyborg spoke for the team.
Terra's voice was still weak as she called out to Robin. "Tell her I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean to hurt her."
Robin looked sad, then turned to leave the room silently.
......................................................................
The door opened, and Raven stood before him, looking the same as she always had. Her face, however, showed concern, and fear. She stepped to the side as Robin walked angrily into the room. The door hissed shut. There was no sound besides Robin's heavy breathing. He felt Raven's hand on his shoulder.
He turned, and she removed her hand. She looked at his angry features, her face fearful of repercussions. She spoke quietly. "Is she ok?"
Robin nodded, almost imperceptibly. "She will be. You didn't injure her permanently. Had I taken another minute to realize where she'd gone, however..."
Raven seemed to be taken aback. She stepped backwards slightly, her hands moving upwards as if to guard herself. Robin realized that his hands were balled into fists. He tried to calm himself. Anger wasn't going to help this, Raven already felt bad for what she had done.
"Tell her that I'm sorry. Tell everyone that I'm sorry. She didn't deserve what I did to her." Raven's voice sounded small and frightened. Robin wanted to help her, but could still only feel angry.
"Saying your sorry doesn't change what you did, Raven. She could have been killed. You allowed your anger to take control of you." Robin tried to control his own anger. He had to forgive her. It wasn't Raven that did this. It wasn't her fault.
Raven backed away from him, terrified. "Robin... Robin, you said you'd help me. Well I need help now."
Robin advanced on her, his face angry. "You needed help earlier. You needed help when Terra was here. Why did you even let her in?"
"I... She wanted to talk. I thought talking to her might help calm me." Raven's back was against a wall. Robin stepped forward, a look of grim determination on his face.
"Raven, I need to know what can be done to stop him. To stop him forever." He stared down at the pale girl, his features twisted in anger and hatred. He was trying to keep Raven and Trigon seperate, but he was failing. Traitors did not deserve mercy, and he couldn't see her as anything besides a traitor.
Raven's voice could hardly be heard. "Stop him... forever?" Her voice grew a little louder. "You would have to swear to me now, that you will do anything I ask of you."
Robin gritted his teeth, speaking through his clenched jaw. "Anything."
Raven's eyes had tears in them. Her voice was steady, however. "Kill me."
Robin's anger suddenly faltered. "Be serious. This isn't a joking matter."
"Killing me is the only way, Robin. You know you could do it. It would take you less than a second. Just snap my neck, you have the strength. You know how to do it."
Robin felt his anger melt into worry. "There's another way. There has to be."
Raven's features were set. "There isn't. You can't kill him, he's immortal. As long as I live, he has power over me. The only way to stop him forever is to destroy the flesh that he created."
Robin reached forward, putting his hand around her neck, feeling the bone inside. She was right, just a twist here, done correctly, would kill her. Batman hadn't taught him the motion required. He'd done his own research, knowing that sometimes incapacitating an enemy wasn't enough. He felt her pulse, slow and steady, through his gloves.
Her eyes were closed. She seemed at peace, ready for the rest of death. He moved his hand slightly, thinking about his options. She was a danger. She was a menace, not only to the Titans, but to humanity in general. He would be helping the world if he'd just do it.
He thought about Starfire. About Beastboy, Cyborg, and Terra. What would they see? They would see him as killing her out of vengeance. Nothing would prove otherwise. His grip loosened, and he put his hand back at his side.
"No. There's another way. There has to be."
Raven opened her eyes. They stared coldly at him. "There is no other way. Do it."
He stared back at her, concerned only for her well being. "Don't get angry, Raven. Stay calm, and just think."
Raven was silent for a moment. "I'll try. In the meantime..." Raven's voice faltered, she sounded hurt and lost. "Can you stay here? Can you please just stay here with me?" Raven looked like she was about to collapse.
Robin carefully picked her up, and walked over to her bed. He sat down, and she sat on his lap, her arms around his neck, and her face against his shoulder. He felt the sobs wrack her body, as she cried again. He knew that her sadness about Beastboy wasn't causing this. She'd lost control.
Robin knew how it felt to be controlled. Slade had controlled him during the cronoton detonator mission. He knew the helplessness, the pain of being unable to affect your own destiny. He knew that it could tear you apart. He knew that she struggled with that feeling every day.
Robin held her close to him as she cried. He didn't mind being her shoulder to cry on. He knew it wouldn't last long. Either she would get her emotions under control, or he would have to find a way to stop her dark side. If that meant killing her... then that was the only option.
She'd stopped crying. She was simply laying against him, her face towards his neck. He felt her small body on his lap. She seemed so weak, as if the day's outburst had diminished her in some way. He couldn't help but pity her. She didn't deserve the hell that her life had to be.
He felt her breath on his neck as she spoke. "I'm going to need your help soon. If you don't kill me, you'll have to fight him. Through the looking glass."
Robin nodded, still holding her. "I know. I can't do it alone."
Raven's arms tightened around him. She seemed to shrink at the realization. "I'll have to let everyone in. Even him. Even her."
Robin nodded. "Will you be able to do it?"
Raven didn't respond for a few seconds. He felt a fear grip him. If she couldn't do it, how would he kill her? How could he even bring himself to do it?
"I will. If you defeat him, if we all defeat him, I can keep him under control."
Robin hugged her close to him, then stood, sitting her on her bed. "I'm going to go try to convince the team to fight. Will you be ready when I get back?"
Raven nodded.
Robin left the room. Today would be a day of reckoning. He hoped it wouldn't be the last day of Raven's life. He grimaced.
He hoped it wouldn't be the last day of humanity.
......................................................................
A/N: I know it's cliché to have a battle with Trigon, but it's required, since Raven is out of control of her emotions. I also know that she's coming across as a bit of a crybaby, but she can't help it. Getting cheated on sucks. In the next chapter, it's a journey through Raven's shattered mind, as the team tries to find it's way to Trigon. Raven can no longer help them, and it's do or die. See you tomorrow.