Teen Titans: The Only Way
Disclaimer: Not mine. 'Cept for Cori, but she's like Raven's twin, I shall relinquish my rights. For now.
Chapter Four-What a Small World, huh?
The next morning, Cori got up quite early so she could go down to the shore and watch the sunrise, like Raven did so many times. But this morning was different- Raven was not up early on the roof, but instead she was still in bed, tired from staying up extremely late watching BB and Cy play video games. That wasn't the only reason she had stayed up late, though, Robin had stayed up late as well and Raven enjoyed his company, making small talk and trying to suppress those girlish giggles that threatened to ruin her dark reputation. Nonetheless she had let some true genuine smiles creep out and Robin had caught them. Cori came out of her room after a little while and joined them; none of the five barely noticed Terra and Starfire when they returned around 10:30 p.m. Well, BB noticed of course and ran off to be with his girlfriend, so Cori sat in for him and challenged Cyborg. She beat him unmercifully but they still bonded quite well and formed a closeness that almost rivaled that of his and her twin's.
Cori didn't mind the lack of sleep she had that night and peacefully hovered above the waterline, contemplating the many thoughts that occupied her already busy mind. She returned upstairs around 9am and was greeted by a wonderful breakfast that Robin was cooking. So far he was the only one up so Cori figured she would talk to him while she still had the chance. She walked over to him and offered a hearty "Good Morning" to her friend. Robin, not knowing anyone else was there, jumped at the sound of her voice, dropping the bowl of pancake batter as he turned around, eyes wide in a mixed feeling of fear and surprise. Cori giggled softly and used her powers to stop the bowl from falling and ruining Birdboy's breakfast. She then placed the bowl back on the counter and walked up next to Robin so she could remove the few pancakes he had started to keep them from burning.
"Hehe. Sorry," Robin finally said, mildly panting and trying to lower his racing heartbeat. "I didn't know anyone else was up." "Well, I am sorry too," Cori smiled, putting the pancakes on a plate next to the stove. "I did not mean to frighten you. Mind if I help?"
Robin regained his composure and began making the next batch of pancakes. "Uh, sure," he said, acting like the cool leader he usually tried to be. "You can cut up some fruit and make the toast if you want." He paused as she nodded and went about helping. "Hey, you rocked last night on that video game. Cyborg never saw it coming!" Cori giggled as she took out some apples, oranges, bananas, strawberries, and grapes from the fridge and began washing them. "Thank you. My friends back home have that game and they make me play all the time, so I have gotten pretty good at it. I guess I forgot to mention that to Cy!" She laughed again, causing Robin's mind to wander for a second. Gosh I wish Raven would laugh like that, he thought. I wish she could be as open as her sister is. She is already so beautiful, but imagine how incredibly gorgeous she would look if she would just smile and laugh more often.
Picking up on his thoughts, Cori smiled and decided now was the time for her proposal. "Umm, Robin," she asked, pulling him from his Raven-ridden reverie. "Can I ask another huge favor from you?" "Sure," he replied. "Shoot." Cori took a deep breath and carefully chose her next words. "Robin, you know that I have offered my assistance when there is trouble, but I am afraid that must change." With a comforting nod, Cori continued. "I know that you, and the rest of the Titans, truly care for my sister and would love to see her able to control her powers and express her emotions. To help her, though, I need to work with her 24/7, and I think it would be beneficial if she no longer fought while I am working with her."
Robin took all of this in, carefully mulling it over. "I know that you need to work hard with your sister, but I don't know if I can, if we can get along fine without Raven. She is quite crucial to us." He didn't sound angry, only rational. "I know that you need her Robin," she stated, hoping that his heart would win over his head. "That you all need her. Raven needs me as well, but she also needs to find herself and your support so she can complete this difficult transition. But I do have an idea." Robin simply looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "As you know," she said. "My friends back home are also superheroes as well. My boyfriend has agreed that, granted with your permission, he would gladly come to stay at the tower and fight alongside you all, taking Raven's place. He really is a terrific fighter and you two really are so much alike, I know you would get along great."
Robin silently weighed her proposal, trying to think of what was best for his team. "Well," he began, smiling slightly. "If it will be good for Raven to remain un-distracted, then I guess your boyfriend could try his hand on the team. I need to do what's best for the team and if this is what's best for Raven, then I guess it must be the only thing to do." Cori's eyes widened as she dropped the fruit in the sink and rushed over to Robin. "Oh Thank you Robin," she said, hugging the Titan leader. "Thank you so much! It really is best for Raven. She really is lucky to have such a great guy like you!"
With that, she put all the fruit into a bowl, put the toast onto a plate and rushed to her room saying she would call her boyfriend and get him over here as soon as possible. Robin only chuckled as he went back to finishing the last few pancakes.
After a few minutes, Robin sensed he wasn't alone anymore, so he turned around and smiled as he saw who had entered. Raven looked up at him and smiled softly back as she pulled down her hood and walked over to the stove. "Good morning, Rae," Robin greeted, grinning from ear to ear. "You're up rather late. Is everything ok? Did you sleep well?" "Yes, I did Robin," she answered, resting on the counter next to him. "Thank you for asking. Everything is fine, really. I guess I just needed the sleep." She paused, glancing at all the food around the kitchen. "Mind if I help?" "Sure, if you want to," Robin replied, turning off the stove as Cori came back out of her room. "You could set the table with Cori if you would like to."
Raven smiled again. "Sure. I think I can manage that." Her voice sounded softer somehow as she took out plates and glasses from the cupboards. "Good morning Cor. Would you like to help me?" "Morning sis," Cori answered, heading to get out the silverware and napkins. "Sure, I would love to help!" The three worked rather quietly setting the table and food out, with scattered greetings of 'Good mornings,' and 'Thank yous,' as the rest of the teens woke up, sat down and complimented on the meal laid out before them.
"Yummy, looks good!" "Yeah, Dude, dee-lish!" came from Terra and Beast Boy as they dug in. "Yes, truly terrific," Starfire exclaimed. "Although, a little mustard could not hurt." "Yuck, gross!" Cyborg exclaimed, bearing a sweatdrop. "Not to your food man. This stuff is great!" "Yes Robin," Cori spoke up, flashing a grin at her twin. "This is pretty good-almost as great as Raven and myself's cooking." Raven blushed as Robin sat down next to her and raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Almost as good?" he questioned, waggling his eyebrows and smirking at Raven. "I never knew you were such a culinary master." Gosh he is so cute when he does that, Raven thought, smirking right back at him. "Oh yeah," she replied in a higher pitched version of her normal monotone voice. "Extraordinary cuisine cooking runs in the family. Our specialty is cooked goose!" This last part was emphasized as she glared dangerously at her sister, who only tittered as her words caused the usual "Dude! I have been those animals. Quit it!" from Beast Boy's seat across the table.
Breakfast continued on quite pleasantly with the conversation remaining quite jovial. As everyone was finishing up, ready to go about his or her daily business, Robin spoke up, saying that he had important news. "Well team, as you know," he started, glancing quickly at Raven and nodding at Cori. "We have this wonderful guest in Cori who has come here to help her sister gain control over her powers." With a nod from everyone, he continued. "Well, I know we all want this to happen for Raven because she is our friend and we want her to be happy, more than anything in the world." Raven blushed as everyone looked at her and murmured their agreements. "Raven is going to need a lot of practice and meditation to overcome this obstacle that lies ahead of her. And to do that, I'm afraid, she will no longer be fighting with us in battles while she is working with Cori."
The table busted out with indignant shouts of "What? No way!" "Never. We need her!" "NO, you cannot take my friend away." "Uh-Uh. You can't let her go!" Raven and Cori merely stared at each other, knowing their friends' cries were falling on deaf ears- Raven had no choice. "Quiet!" Robin shouted, silencing the raging tempers that had flared up. "All of you just stop it! Raven needs this and we will support her, no matter what!" Raven looked up at him and their eyes locked, each feeling the sincerity of his words. "Now," he continued in a more normal tone. "Cori has called her boyfriend and he will take up the missing spot while Raven and Cori work at what they need to. I know this is going to be extremely difficult without Raven, but she is not leaving. You will still see her and be able to talk with her when she is not practicing."
Realizing that their dark friend would still be at home, just not fighting with them, they all heaved a sigh of relief. And Raven and Cori let out a rush of air as well. As empaths they had felt all the anger and caring coming out from the group and it was overwhelming.
Everyone muttered his or her apologies as Cyborg, BB, Terra and Starfire got up and started cleaning. Ignoring the pleas to help of the other three, they were ushered out into the living room to relax followed by a chorus of 'They have worked hard enough this morning already.' Robin, Raven and Cori decided to go for a walk around the little island to pass some time. After a half-hour of walking, Cori spotted a young man making his way towards them; she squealed in delight and flew over to him, almost knocking him over as he spun her around and kissed her passionately.
Robin looked towards the couple, slightly nervous and blushing as he inwardly wished that that were he and a certain sister showing that magnitude of affection. He then looked at his raven-haired beauty standing next to him. "I'm guessing that must be her boyfriend," he said after the two were still kissing and hugging after like 15 minutes. "I am not sure," Raven said sarcastically with a smirk. "It might be, but she really is not giving a definite action that it could be him." The two chuckled quietly at their little joke and the couple was now walking towards them. "Oh you guys are just jealous!" Cori yelled, startling the two, who now sported puzzling looks. "What? Did you think we could not hear you? Besides, I could read your minds, ya know!"
The two birds merely looked at each other and sheepishly grinned. Robin then looked up at Cori's boyfriend and his eyes grew slightly wider as he did a double take. "Robin, Raven," Cori said, facing her friends while her boyfriend's arm circled around her waist and hers rested the same way on his waist. "I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Charlie. Sweetie, this is my sister Raven and the Titan's leader, Robin."
Raven shook hands with her sister's boyfriend; "It is nice to finally meet you Charlie. Cori has talked much of you." "Same here Raven," he replied with a wide grin. "Gosh you sure are a lot like your sister here. All she ever talks about anymore is you." Then he turned his attention to the smirking Robin. "Yo, Rob," he greeted, shaking his hand and snapping his fingers at the boy wonder. "Long time no see pal. Ready to work together again?" "Wait. What?" Cori interrupted as she stared back and forth between the almost identical boys; save Charlie was a little taller, a little older, he had blond spiky hair and his weapons were a bit different, but although different shapes, they were exactly the same technology as Robin's. "You two already know each other? Honey, you did not say anything to me!"
"Sorry Babe," Charlie replied. "I figured it would be a nice surprise. Besides, I am looking forward to working with good ole Robin again- he's a great guy." "I could say the same about you," Robin said, his arms mockingly crossing his chest. "Of course it'll be great working with you again. I just can't believe that it's YOU! What a small world huh?"
Raven and Cori simply stared at each other as the two young men walked off talking 'superhero stuff.' "Humph," Raven said in her usual dry tone. "Well, at least we know they will get along all right. They will occupy themselves enough so we can work as much as we need to." "Yeah," Cori responded with a grin playing across her features. "A perfect pair of should-be brothers.... For a perfect pair of already-are sisters!" Raven's eyes glared at her sister, but then they grew soft and widened a bit as they considered the possible truth behind her sister's simple theory...
A/N: Alright, who is it- who is Cori's boyfriend? Do you know? Now I don't know his real name, so I made it up- Please don't hurt me! Don't forget that it has been a few years- I am going to say it's like 2-3 years after the cartoon, so it has been awhile since Robin and Charlie have worked together. And Slade has been defeated, it just makes things a lot easier for me. Also I am going to pretend that Charlie is one year older than everyone is, k? Hope you like! Sarah Cabbage Patch