Disclaimer: I still don't own the Teen Titans.
Slip 'n 'Slide...
"RAVEN!"
The shock reverberated through out the Tower's steel frame to slam into Raven. She visibly flinched at it's impact. 'Good time to be an Empath!' She groaned to herself and rolled her eyes. Again the storm seemed to taunt her. Sending a gust of icy wet wind into the exposed doorway. Bracing against the blow, she began to shiver more. Her teeth clattered, her lips trembled, her faced lowered to meet her chest. And still silence. 'I shouldn't have done this!'
The familiar voice of Cyborg rang out into the darkness. It's tone as icy as the attacking wind. Raven jumped, looking up into the camera. "Why are you here?"
Her mouth opened to reply. Eyes blinking the rain away. 'Why am I here?" She shook her head slowly, looking down at the ground. ' Because you're better now! You won't harm them. You want your life back! Tell them!' Sighing she looked back up. " I..I'm here...I" Her mouth clamped closed. 'I can't do it'. Raven's eyes closed tightly against the tears that wanted so badly to escape.
"Well?"
Glistering purple orbs quickly flashed back to the camera. A few tears slid down her cheeks to meet with her trembling mouth. It opened slightly, wishing to speak. But all that came out was a mixture of grunt and groan. Hands flew up wards. Violently tugging the depressed hood back into place over Raven's head. She turned sharply and walked away from the doorway.
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Four sets of wide, dazed eyes looked at the main monitor. A wet sad face filling it's view. Starfire's hands firmly covered her mouth, Beast Boy's hand gripped a handful of his hair, his mouth gapped open. Cyborg's eyes narrowed at the screen, anger slowly taking over his expression. Robin stood stock still, staring at a face long thought dead.
Cyborg smashed his finger against the Mic button, his voice ice cold. "Why are you here?"
The others shook themselves awake at his question. Looking from him to the screen. A large gust of wind knocked into their ghost. She began to shiver from it. Robin's fingers twitched at the sight of this. He closed his eyes tightly when her lips trembled and her head lowered. 'Raven...'. Her shattered voice echoed into the room, bringing his eyes back to the monitor screen. "I..I'm here...I"
"Well?" Cy gritted his teeth.
Large beautiful eyes flashed back into view. Tears welled to the brim. A look of pain and regret took over the usual emotionless face. Robin furrowed his brow at it. His hand shook and started to lift to the screen, seeking to smooth her pain away. He blinked and pulled his hand back to his body. It immediately turned into a fist, knuckles turning white as Raven quickly turned and walked away. His voice whispered out to Cyborg. "Let her in Cy."
Cyborg turned on his heel. Pure anger on his face. "What! Let her in? No!"
Robin looked up to his friend. He cleared his throat and steadied his voice. "Let her in."
Starfire floated closer. Her hands now at her sides. She spoke softly. "Yes. Let her in."
Cyborg glared at her and then looked over at Beast Boy. " You going to tell me the same?"
Beast Boy couldn't keep eye contact with him and looked to his feet with a nod.
Cyborg crossed his arms over his chest. "No!"
Starfire turned around. "Well then I will go get her!" She flew from the room and to an elevator. Before the others could respond, she was already enclosed in the rapidly descending box.
Robin took a few steps toward the elevator and then back to Cyborg. "What's wrong with you? Raven is our friend."
" Was our friend Rob, Was. Remember? She left us!"
"Well now she's back!"
Beast Boy slowly backed away from the arguing. He turned into a puppy and cowered against the couch.
" I don't care if she's back!" Cyborg stomped away from the computers. Robin followed behind him, his eyes glancing over to the screens every few seconds. " She had her reason's for leaving. I don't agree with what happened. But she has her right to explain."
Cyborg grunted. "She didn't trust us. Instead of letting us help, she left!"
Beast Boy whimpered lightly and Robin turned back to the screen in time to see Starfire zoom by the cameras. He exhaled lightly and turned back to Cyborg. "Do you blame her? We weren't exactly cheering her on when she calmed down."
Cyborg placed his hands on the counter and leaned forward. His eye closed tightly. He exhaled and whispered. "I know..but..she.." he pushed himself away. "She could have stayed.. let us help..anything but just run!"
Robin and Cyborg stared at each other. They both agreed on that much and words were not needed to understand that. Beast Boy flopped to the floor and curled into a tight puppy ball. His little paws covered his face. His whimpers sounded like crying and time seemed to freeze in the Titans Tower.
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Raven slowly walked away from the Tower. Tears openly ran down her cheeks. Nothing exploded. She had learned how to control her powers. The day that they had taken her over was the worst day of her life. And she never wanted to experience that again. During her absence, she had returned home, among other places. It was slow and hard, but eventually she conquered her emotions and defeated her Father. She could feel. But right now she wished she was that closed emotionless girl again. Raven knew there would be some problems with her return. But she never expected it to hurt this much. Her feet quickened into a run. The rain still poured. The wind still tormented. Tears and rain blurred her vision. But she kept running.
A sudden flash of lightening blinded Raven's impaired vision. In that moment she slipped in the mud and fell hard onto her side. A screech ripped through the air as Raven blinked in confusion. Slowly she began to turn and lift herself up. However, her boots and gloves couldn't get purchase in the soggy ground and she slipped again, landing on her hands and knees. ' This isn't a good day!' She huffed and hung her head.
A pair of purple shiny boots landed softly in front of her. She raised her eyes and looked at the booted feet. Hands gently squeezed her shoulders. Raven's eyes fluttered closed. 'Great!'
"Are you damaged, missing friend Raven?"
"I'm starting to think so." Raven muttered to the ground.
A purple gloved hand reached down. Raven looked at it and slowly put hers into it. It gripped tightly and tugged up. "I could not hear your reply." Raven was pulled to her feet. Her hand slipped out of Starfire's. It moved to her hip under the cloak and rubbed absently. Raven looked at the woman in front of her. Large bright green eyes looked back. The woman flashed a big smile at Raven, hands clapped in front of her. " Oh it has been so long!"
Raven raised her eyebrow and sighed inwardly. "I know....Starfire."