In The Beginning There was Darkness

Chapter Two

July 21st 2003

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Raven looked up at the masked face she had recently come to know and despise, and all within the same night too. This menace had, somewhere in that damned tower shaped like a 'T', every shred of dignity she had left. Translation: she was basically naked without her cloak.

"You have something that belongs to me," She stated flatly. "And I'd like it back, if you don't mind."

Robin raised an eyebrow, looking over the shapely figure. In the dark, her face and eyes were intriguing. In the light, her whole body was intriguing. She was clad in nothing but a tight, black leotard that accented her body, and Robin found himself examining her carefully. Every curve on her body was wild, primal, and lusty, making good sense leak from his brain. She was nothing like he had ever seen before… dark, mysterious… in a word: exotic.

"My cloak? Can I have it back?" The girl snarled angrily, pulling Robin from his thoughts quickly and turning his cheeks a bright red.

"Your cloak?" Robin asked calmly.

Raven sighed deeply, rolled her eyes, then held up a red, crescent-shaped object. "Do you want to trade for it? I'm assuming you've realized that you lost this… thing."

"It's a birdrang," He stated automatically, then held his hand out for it. "May I have it please, it's dangerous in the hands of an amateur."

Raven rolled her eyes again, feeling very exasperated with this boy. "Boys…" She muttered, but kept her fingers tightly wound around the curved spike of the 'birdrang'. "Look," She stated again, her tone just as flat as before, "I don't care what it is… all I want is my cloak, and I'm sure you want this thing back."

"Why were you trying to destroy the power-plant?" Robin asked suddenly.

Raven felt as if she had been hit with a ton of bricks. Why was this idiot so persistent? Had she not already told him that she didn't mean to destroy the power plant? "Listen… whatever your name is-"

"Robin," Robin interjected, feeling his pride deflate like a popped balloon. Didn't everyone know about the Titans? Why would this evildoer be an exception.

"Okay, Robin," Raven said angrily, her patience wearing thin. "I told you that I didn't mean to destroy your power-plant. It was an accident and I'm sorry."

"An accident!?" Robin cried incredulously, looking at Raven as if she had proclaimed herself leader of the 'little people'. "You call destroying a building that took up TWO city blocks an accident?"

"I didn't completely destroy it… and yes, it was an accident." Raven snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.

"How?" Robin asked in complete disbelief. "I honestly want to know how."

Raven sighed deeply, then glanced up at the thundering sky. "Before I explain myself to you, can I at least come in? I'm being soaked by this rain and it's rather uncomfortable."

Robin noted that she was indeed soaked by the rain, and not even a single inch of her skin looked remotely dry. He had no choice but do the chivalrous thing and offer her refuge inside the Grand Hall of the Tower.

"Thank you," She said politely, after she was allowed inside.

Robin looked at her in shock. She was being polite!? Since when was evil polite?

"What?" Raven asked as she noted the strange look being passed her way. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You said 'thank you'."

Raven rolled her eyes, then began to wring water from her hair. "I'm not rude," She stated matter-of-factly, "Nor am I as evil as you perceive me to be." She ruffled her hair in hope of getting air to her roots, then sighed as it all fell back into place.

"I perceive you to be pretty evil." Robin was desperately trying to ignore the sultry way water dripped from every facet of Raven's body, and keep his composure in front of her.

"Look, Robin, I'm not from earth, Okay?" Raven stated exasperatedly, finally giving up on her hair and turning back to the matter at hand. "I have no want, desire, or intention to wreak havoc, destroy precious artifacts for the fun of it, or enslave the human race. I honestly couldn't care less. It was an accident that I destroyed the power-plant and I'm promising you that it won't happen again."

"We'll get to the rest of the things you just mentioned later, but for right now explain to me why you keep calling destroying the power-plant an 'accident'. I'm missing that point entirely." Robin said, frustrated. This girl was making it too hard to pump information from her.

Raven sighed deeply, feeling her body become weighted with exasperation. "Fine. I have the ability to control the world around me by using my aura. The way I do this is by tapping into my emotional powers, however, if my emotions become uncontrollable I loose control of my powers and things are done as my emotions see fit." She took a breath and looked the boy in his enlightened, masked eyes. "Need I explain the state of your power-plant?"

"So, that's how you were able to levitate that tool box onto my head."

"Yes and no," Raven said in a conversational tone. "That was a defense mechanism. You wouldn't let me go, so I was going to make you let me go."

"You know, I have a bump because of that." Robin said grudgingly.

"Tell me again when I care." Raven replied in a mock-pleasant tone.

"So…" Robin began again, trying to steer the conversation back on track as everything began to click together. "Did you lose control of your powers tonight?"

"Ahh, you're not as stupid as you led me to belive," Raven stated rather sarcastically to the masked hero. "And I was afraid I was going to have to spell it out for you. You're right, Robin, I did loose control of my emotions this evening."

"Over what?"

Raven's face went pale and her eyes went wide at such a question. Her lips trembled softly as she tried to regain her composure in front of this boy. She had been trying to everything to block out the memories and reasons… but they were coming back quicker and harder than ever. 'I don't want to remember…' she thought, wishing the coldness in her heart and bones would go away. 'I don't want to remember anything…'

"I don't think that's any of your business," Raven stated angrily, hoping the powerless super-hero didn't sense her hesitation in telling him off.

"Maybe I think it is," He replied, looking at her strangely. In spite of her efforts to make him angry about her snide remarks, Robin had noticed the hesitation and cold feeling around her. Something had happened to her that should happen to no one, and for some reason Robin wanted to stop her from hurting.

"Maybe you have your head up your ass," the dark girl snapped in response. "And if it wasn't for the fact that I still don't have my cloak back, I would have left by now."

"Well, I'm glad I have a bargaining chip." Robin was indeed glad, otherwise he would no longer be in the presence of such a woman. And Raven was unlike any woman he had ever met.

"I am trying to be as patient as possible with you… but if we don't end this soon, I will hurt you." Raven snarled between clenched teeth. "And in ways you didn't think were even possible."

Robin stared at her for a long while. "If I return your cloak to you, do you promise to let us take you to the police station for a trial date?"

Raven's face turned white, her eyes got wide with fright, and she took a step back, away from him. "What? I can't turn myself in… I didn't even do anything wrong!" She cried. She couldn't go to the police, they would lock her in a cell that would neutralize her powers, and keep her from being free. It was an accident that the power plant was destroyed, she didn't mean for it to happen! Why should she be pushed for a mishap?

Robin crossed his arms over his chest and raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I know of a partially destroyed building that would beg to differ with you."

"I was an accident!" Raven cried in defense, feeling rather helpless as he stood there berating her for a mistake.

"Accident or not, you still destroyed government property and it's the Titans' job to see that justice is served," Robin sounded strangely like he didn't want to turn Raven into the police. Like he wanted to keep her free.

Raven sighed, then rolled her eyes as she accepted her defeat to the masked menace. She couldn't argue with the law of this land, even if she wanted to. "Fine, you can take me into the police, but can I have my cloak back first?" She held out her hand with the nearly forgotten birdrang, and offered it to him as a truce.

"Sure… follow me." Robin accepted the weapon calmly, then led the strange girl deeper and deeper into Titan Tower, until they entered the brightly-lit evidence room. Cyborg sat at the computer, watching the security cameras on the monitor, with Beast Boy and Starfire hovering around him closely. Robin knew instantly that they had been watching his and Raven's conversation, and for some reason, felt very sheepish about it. It hadn't really been a private conversation, but personal things had been said, especially on Raven's part.

"So," Cyborg began, turning around to look at the two visitors, "This is the little lady we've been tracking down?"

Raven looked over at Robin, hoping he would speak for her. It was strange how comfortable and safe she felt with him, although she knew he was going to turn her into the police. Even when she first saw him a few hours ago, there was something about it that kept her from fearing him in any way.

"Yeah," Robin said calmly, as he picked up the heavy cloak from the table it was lying on. "Here you go, Raven." He handed the cloak to her and Raven instantly threw it around her body, fastening it tightly before pulling the hood around her face. She vaguely noted that it smelled like the soft, thick scent that came from Robin.

"Well… let's go and get this whole police thing taken care of," Raven stated rather drearily, looking over at Robin.

Before he even had a chance to respond, a musical beep erupted from his belt. Rolling his eyes, he removed the communicator and flipped it open. He sighed and looked wearily at the other Titans. "Cinder-Block."

Everyone groaned and rolled their eyes.

"Again?" Beast Boy whined. "Didn't we just put him in jail two weeks ago?"

"Yeah, but what do you want from a man made out of concrete?" Robin questioned rhetorically. He turned back to Raven and shrugged apologetically. "Looks like you're going to have to come with us, if you don't mind."

"Of course I mind," Raven said irritably, "But it looks like I don't have a choice, do I?" She sighed and followed Robin even deeper into the tower, until they emerged into a garage holding a single piece of bright, red, automotive equipment.

"I'm sorry to say that this won't take too long," Robin said as he hopped on his motorcycle. Raven stared incredulously at the motorcycle, then at him.

"I hope you don't expect me to ride that." She stated flatly.

"I do." Robin said calmly, without flinching. "Now get on, you're delaying me."

"I'll fly, thank you," Raven sneered at him before raising herself into the air to take flight. Robin reached up and grabbed her ankle before she had the chance to move anyway. With a firm tug, he pulled her back to the ground and looked angrily at her. There was no way he believed that she was going to fly to the scene of the crime. If he let her go, there was a good chance that he'd never see her again, and justice would be far from served.

"No way am I letting you fly. Get on." He was firm enough with his words, that Raven had to give into him again that evening, and ended up straddling a fire-red motorcycle, while clutching to a powerless superhero for dear life as he raced mercilessly through the city streets. Needless to say, it was not the best night that she had ever had.

"If it wasn't for that fact that I knew I would be punished," Raven began, as she quickly removed herself from the motorcycle, "Then you would be dead by now."

Robin smiled almost maliciously at her. "Didn't like my ride, Raven?"

She glared at him and pulled her hood over her wind-blown hair in response.

"Robin, you have arrived!" Starfire flew down from the top of the building to greet her teammate. "What has delayed you so much?"

Raven felt her face grow warm with embarrassment, and her eyes fell to the ground. She didn't mean to delay Robin from him duties, but she did not like motorcycles and had not intention of riding one, so she was willing to put up a fight if she had to.

"Traffic," Robin said nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.

Raven's gaze snapped back to the masked man. He didn't say anything about her delaying them. Why was he sticking up for her? She'd never given him any reason to stuck up for her. She was rude and snide whenever she talking with him, and she had plans to escape the moment he got side tracked, Robin knew this as well. So why was he lying for her?

"Where's Cinder-Block?" Robin asked quickly, ignoring the surprised and confused expression in Raven's eyes.

"Inside. Cyborg and Beast Boy are engaged in battle with him at the moment," Starfire said calmly as she started for the door to the old warehouse. Robin followed her for a moment, then stopped and turned around quickly.

"Come on." He reached behind him and grabbed Raven's wrist to pull her inside with the rest of the team. "There's no way I'm letting you stay out here unattended."

There goes her escape plan.

"I'm not a child, you know," Raven growled at him as he dragged her into the old warehouse, "And you're really beginning to get on my nerves." She ground her teeth together to keep from saying anything more to the masked hero.

The warehouse was mostly dark, due to the lack of power to the city, but a shower of sparks erupted every so often because of the fact that a large, cement being was fighting two young superheroes. And losing, to boot.

"That's what you raced over here to fight?" Raven asked, raising an eyebrow. "Seems like a waste of your time."

"Oh, it is," Robin said shrugging. "But we've got justice to uphold."

Raven rolled her eyes. "Yeah, good luck with that."

"Cyborg! Beast Boy!" Starfire called in shock and surprise.

Both Raven and Robin's gaze darted from each other to the corner where Beast Boy and Cyborg seemed to have Cinder-Block cornered. The concrete beast seemed to have suddenly lost his balance and was in the process of falling to crush the two heroes like pancakes.

Without thinking another thought, Raven chanted, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" With that the rock-like beast was wrapped in a black aura and stopped falling, as if frozen in time. Raven raised her hands and tossed the cement creature to the side.

The thing raised its head and glared at the dark woman who had stopped his fall that would have destroyed two of the Titans. "Cinder-Block will crush you!" it yelled in a deep and angry voice. With that it rose to its feet and chased after Raven. She didn't even flinch as it came towards her, and raised herself off the ground in a battle stance.

From her new height, Raven noticed a steel beam lying idly on the floor. She let her powers control her for a moment as she levitated the beam to the creature, then twisted the steel around its upper torso and arms, rendering the creature helpless and top-heavy. It teetered around for a moment before falling to the ground again with a loud 'THUD'.

Everyone stared at the fallen villain, then at Raven. A shocked, heavy silence filled the whole warehouse as Raven began to realize that she had let them see her powers. Her face turned pink and she came down from her levitating position.

"Whoa… that was scary…" Beast Boy commented rather stupidly, when she set foot on solid ground again.

"Um… sorry you had to see that. I guess now you know for sure it was me who kinda screwed up your power plant…" She looked sheepishly around her, then back into Robin's face. It was still so odd that she found comfort in his features. "I suppose you should be taking me to the police."

Before Robin could respond, the doors to the warehouse flew open and a river of storm-trooper-like policemen rushed into the building to secure it, of course only after the Titans had done all the hard work. One of the policemen took one look at Raven, then ran over to the group of Titans and 'villain'.

"So, Robin," The policeman said as he approached the masked leader. "This must be the person who destroyed the power plant. Cyborg sent a message to us telling you would deliver her. Want me to box her up?" He jerked his thumb at the dark woman.

'Box me up!?' Raven thought angrily, glaring at the over-bearing buffoon. 'What am I, a Christmas gift?'

Robin glanced from the snarling Raven, to the idiot who had just insulted her, and time stopped for just a few long moments. No one was really sure what was going through Robin's head as he looked around, but one thing was for sure. No one, not even Raven or the Titans, expected what came from his mouth next.

"Nope. She's not the one you want. Raven here is our newest Titan."

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ARA! You guys really love my story! I'm SO HAPPY! ::Hugs all of the readers:: I was a little worried that no one would read it, but I'm really glad everyone liked it so much. I just have a few notes:

1 – I know all about Raven's past (As stated in Authors Notes of A Raven Colored Past). However, I really like to make things up, and allow them to bend in order to make the story more enjoyable. So for those of you who want me to use the comic book past of Raven, I'm sorry… it aint happinin'. But I hope you will not be displeased with my own take on her dark past.

2 – This goes the same for Robin.

3 – Review if you hated it, Review if you loved it… tell me to go punch Barney in the face. It's all good.

Lots o' Love: Xaph!