Sick
Chapter Six - Release
Robin sat in the quiet, contemplating the new turns in his life. It was completely understandable that they had practically fled in terror after that dream. Heck, even Robin wanted to run away from what was happening. The fact that he had enjoyed killing his friends in the dream still made him queasy, but before he could throw up for the second time that night, he pushed all thoughts of his dream away. While most dreams would lose their impact after waking, not a single detail had faded from his memory, including all the information on the coming ceremony and what it meant. Robin really was going to be the end of the world; he was exactly what the vampires had been waiting for.
Before coming up to the roof, Robin had placed a clandestine call to his mentor and friend, Batman. He had described the events in his life and asked for guidance, point blank. The Dark Knight had promised to search for answers on his end, but had remained ominously tight-lipped about the whole affair. Robin had been around him long enough to know that if Batman didn't have something optimistic to say, he wouldn't say anything at all. The silence on the other end of the secure line scared Robin more than anything. He had simply pursed his lips in understanding, thanked his one-time partner and signed off. One way or another, this had to come to an end.
A sudden gust of sea scented air threw back his hair and cape, making him blink. Just after the sun set and before it rose, the wind would always pick up around Titan Tower; the changing temperature of the water stirring up the air currents. Robin chewed absently on a toothpick as he sifted through his newly bequeathed knowledge of the Bringing of Krimjehf, looking for anything that may have been different from the prophecy. Unfortunately, everything was going exactly according to plan.
The writings in the Necronomicon had foreseen a human, the Chosen One, who would surround himself with all kinds of magics. When the human had reached his fifteenth year, he would be turned and marked, to be sired indirectly by a master vampire. At the coming of the blood moon, on the anniversary of the Chosen One's birth, he would then take the magics surrounding him into himself and fill the sacred chalice with his blood. With the Chosen One's sacrifice would come the rebirth of Krimjehf, god of the vampires. The sun would never again rise to burn his children, and they would always be alive and powerful. Mankind would be enslaved and vampires would rule.
Robin had surrounded himself with something similar to magic, all the special abilities of the other Titans. There was a lunar eclipse the next night, which also happened to be the same day he turned sixteen. He had not been turned by the master himself, but had been marked by him, exactly as the prediction had foreseen. He had also marked and therefore bound his friends to himself, making his access to their magics nice and convenient. He knew what and where the sacred chalice was and he knew that he was completely powerless to resist the mind control of the master vampire. If he was breathing, he was fulfilling that damn prophesy.
At the thought of everyone he had ever known becoming nothing but cattle and amusement for the vampires, Robin felt ill again. Once again, he pushed those thoughts away. None of that was going to happen, because he was not going to be there to fill the sacred chalice. If he didn't spill his blood, Krimjehf could not come to life, and if that horrible god was not called into being, everything would be alright. That was the reason he was on the roof of Titan Tower leaning into the breeze. He had to stop the prophesy. Another gust pushed at the crime fighter and he breathed in deeply, savoring the salty scent.
He heard footsteps climbing the stairs and he composed himself, this was no time to be showing weakness. The rooftop hatch opened with a creak and was shut quietly, the visitor making no noise. A soft touch on his mind was Raven's way of announcing herself and asking permission to join him. He didn't respond, but sat chewing on the toothpick and staring out toward the horizon. She sat down beside him and looked out over the black waters with him. They were facing east, and the stars had already begun to fade. For many minutes they sat in silence, sharing one another's company. Finally, Raven broke the silence.
"No one was really hurt," she started, "after you left, we figured out that the blood wasn't any of ours." She omitted the fact that they didn't know exactly how the blood had covered each of them or where it had come from. Robin simply nodded in acknowledgement, not removing his eyes from the horizon. A dark blue line had appeared above the water, foreshadowing the approaching dawn. "You don't have to do this, you know." Raven didn't know if she was making a statement or a plea.
"Yes I do, and you know why. You more than any of the others." She couldn't argue with that, but Robin could tell she didn't want to accept it.
"We don't even know where the chalice is, so -"
Robin cut her off with a quiet, "I do." They sat in silence once more, watching the dark blue become a shade lighter. The wind gusted again and Robin pulled the chewed piece of wood from his teeth, facing Raven abruptly. "Raven, I…" his words caught in his throat, "I…don't think I can do this…I-I'm...scared." The last word was spoken so softly that Raven had to strain to hear him. Robin pulled off his ever-present mask and looked at her with brilliant blue eyes.
Her heart seized when she saw the sheer desperation in those cerulean depths so she hesitantly reached to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. He needed her touch more than anything at that moment, but pulled away, not wanting to frighten her. Raven understood that he was keeping himself distant from the Titans because he couldn't control his actions sometimes, but she couldn't stand to see him so lost. Before he could do anything, she wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin on his shoulder and holding him tightly.
He stiffened and resisted, but only for a moment before his long pent up emotions overwhelmed him. He embraced her and buried his face in her shoulder, sobs wracking his body. "Oh god Raven, what do I do?" his voice was muffled against her shoulder. Waves of his pain, fear, confusion, helplessness, anger and desperation washed over her, drawing a single tear down her cheek. She could only hold him tighter in answer.
In the floors below, each of the Titans felt his sorrow as keenly as he did. Beast Boy dropped the tofu he was working with, sinking to his knees in the kitchen, head in his hands. Cyborg tossed and turned on the recharging table, his human mind filled with a grief his bionic half simply could not understand. Alone in her room, Starfire sat facing her window, staring out over the lightening sky. Tears streamed down her face as she hugged her knees to her chest, gently rocking in an effort to comfort herself. All of the Titans knew what Robin was doing on the rooftop, what he was waiting for, and none of them could argue with his logic.
Robin let all his emotions out, for once relying completely on another to take care of him. As he wept, he realized he had never felt so vulnerable in his life and was completely terrified of what was going to happen. He knew he had made the right choice, but the thought of what was coming scared him completely out of his wits. While he had faced death almost on a daily basis before, he had never really thought that he might lose to it. Now, death was the only option. He could keep his friends safe by staying on the roof, or he could die by fulfilling the prophesy and bring an end to the world. He was blocked into a corner that he couldn't fight, think or talk his way out of and he was truly frightened.
When he could cry no more, he stilled and simply held Raven close, the one who had stayed with him the whole time. She had never been too intimidated to keep an eye on him, she had kept him alive with her blood that first night and she was there now, comforting him in his moment of despair. He took a deep breath to clear his mind and noticed how sweet Raven smelled when she was sad. A warning bell went off in his head but before he could curb himself, he felt his fangs grow longer once again. Her heartbeat rang in his ears and his eyes were involuntarily drawn to the artery on her neck.
Robin clamped his teeth shut and turned away, breaking the embrace. Could he not have control...for even the last moments of his life? A heavy sense of self-loathing settled on the boy wonder and he faced east once more. Fighting the bloodlust, he swallowed and managed a gruff, "Thanks, Raven."
At first, the witch was confused as to why he had pulled away, but then saw him struggle with his vampiric nature. She gave him a few minutes to compose himself, then placed a gentle hand on his cheek, forcing him to face her. Instead of the breathtaking blue that had been there before was a gruesome shade of red, the maroon color of blood. Raven kept her violet eyes on his and moved closer, indulging her feelings for once. Without saying a word, she leaned in and gently touched her lips to his, letting him lead. She was worried he might pull away, but all her fears were laid to rest when he kissed her back fiercely, desperately.
It was as if each of them had been holding a weight they were unaware of and by releasing their passion, the weight had been lifted. Robin brushed his tongue gently over Raven's lips, begging for entry and she parted them, drawing him toward her. Soon, they were both so lost in the kiss that neither noticed when Robin's fangs cut her and blood trickled between them. Raven kissed particularly aggressively then pulled away, her hands on either side of his face. They both panted a bit as she kissed her blood off his lips, a tear sliding down her cheek. The entire sky was blue and the sun was about to break the horizon.
Robin understood, nodding as he stood and pushed her away from him. She backed away, the most difficult three steps she had ever taken. He closed his eyes, trying to prepare himself for what was to come, and when he looked at her again, the other Titans stood with her. Beast Boy, Starfire, Cyborg and Raven were all there with him, and in a strange way, it gave him strength. Each of their faces were shining in the windy predawn light, no one ashamed of their tears. Robin mustered a smile as he slipped his mask over his blue eyes and turned to face the cleansing light of dawn, holding his arms out.
The sun crested the horizon.