Fighting on the Edge

Part 1

Birth Rites.

Hi! I'm back. Sorry this has taken a while!

XxKajix0xMizuxX - lol! No BBxRae in this chapter - Sorry. But more coming soon!

emeraldLINX - Raven's my fave 2. But when you gotta go, you gotta go!

stella-s55 - Consider me Updated.

Stolen Valkyrie - HIGH FIVE right back at ya! Tried to make this chapter a little long! lol

Raw Blister - When you're with the Titans you're never alone!!

sohowisYumi2181- thanks! As for the name, it kind of just popped into my head one day.

Metajoker- Smiles I like you're ending!

Slayergirl1362- Okay, okay, you can put the puppy eyes away!

PerrinGeye - thanxs!

kidsnextdoor112 - Kay. Azar and Jericho are from the comics - Azar was a religious leader of Azarath, who taught Raven to control her emotions, Jericho was a member of the Titans, as well as being the second son of Slade. As for Tempest - He's an OC with the power of controlling the weather and the tiniest crush on Raven.

Gothic Revival - Don't panic. The end is near!

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12. Shared Burden

Jericho was dreaming. He knew that much. But this was a different kind of dream. He was aware that he was sleeping, he was even able to form conscious thoughts. Almost as if he was having a premonition. But that couldn't be, could it? Joey's mind questioned. Yes, he had unusually strong senses that had enable him to see and feel things that most other people couldn't, yet he had never had a vision as clearly as he was now.

Surrounded by a heavy dark veil, Jericho could barely make out his own hands in front of his face. An intense feeling that he was descended slowly downwards was compelling. As if he had no will of his own, Jericho allow his body to fall through the air.

Suddenly a piercing sensation caught him off guard. Trembling Jericho realised that he was afraid. Of what? He couldn't be sure. He could see nothing before him, just a never ending darkness that he was inadvertently drifting through. Shutting his eyes, Joey longed to wake up. The only sound he could hear was the pounding of his own heart beat, booming within his ears.

From far off, a low wail echoed throughout the dismal planes. Immediately Jericho opened his eyes, and gasped with horror at the sight the lay before him. From nowhere a thousands souls of the dead or more appeared to be soaring around him. Each with extended arms, faces torn with agony, calling out for him.

"The souls of Azarath!!!" he breathe, startled by the sound of his own voice. "Those who Trigon destroyed…."

An icy hand clasped his shoulder. The boy whirled round, glazing into the cold eyes of the once King. His face pressed deep into that of Jericho's with a expression of pure hatred.

"What do you want from me?" Joey whispered.

"Revenge." The ghost hissed.

Instantly Joseph awoke with a start. A sense of reassurance washed over him when he saw where he was. His tidy room, safe within the Titan's tower. Lightly touching his face, Jericho felt the moistness of cool sweat across his forehead. Then he saw her. The slim form of Raven suspended against his door. How long had she been there? Was it she that had placed this images in his mind? Glazing at the girls ashen face of Raven, he noticed her striking eyes were stained red and looked sore as if she had been crying. Swiftly her lips parted.

"We need to talk."

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"That's your plan!" The android bellowed.

Robin glared, but said nothing. Instead he turned Azar and asked for her advice, which only angered Cyborg further. He bit down on his lower lip, a dark scowl emerging on his grumpy face. Azar wasn't even a member of the team, why the hell should she be included? Why was Robin listening to her and not him? Cyborg turned away in disgust.

Over in the kitchen area of the Titans den, Starfire was pestering Tempest. Her native astounded Cyborg, who slowly rose from his seat unnoticed. Was she really so stupid that she didn't know what was going on? No of course not. Cyborg shook his head. Stupid? How could he have thought that? Star just didn't understand. Or maybe she did, and this was just her way of coping. Glazing out the wide windows of the tower, only the deep red sky shone back. Unable to turn away, Cyborg was subjected to the most gruesome of thoughts.

Today might the last time you ever see your friends again.

His eyes grew moist. 'I don't want this to be how it ends.' He thought to himself. 'There so much I have to say to them. They're my friends and I love each and everyone of them.' Flashbacks of from the very first time he ever met the Titans to all of their battles entered his mind. Robin when he was Slade's apprentice, infiltrating the hive, accidentally entering Raven's mind, Brother Blood, visiting Star's home world, Mad Mod's school, Terra………

So many memories. So many villains that he and his friends had defeated together. Why couldn't this time be any different? He thought miserably to himself. But he knew that it would be. Unable to explain from where these feelings had arisen, all Cyborg knew was that one way or another he would lose be losing a friend. Sighing, Cyborg couldn't hide how irritable he was. He was tired, his concern for BB well being had preventing him form a good night sleep of which he so desperately needed. Heading back to the kitchen, a twinge ran through his body, almost as if someone had flipped a switch within him. All of Cyborg's doubt melted away. Oozing with confident, he approached Tempest and Star with a wide grin upon his face, blissfully unaware that his new feelings were curtsey of Azar.

Starfire floated above Tempest's head oblivious to the fact that Cyborg was standing behind her. Armed with a wooden spoon and mixing bowl, she attempted to force feed Tempest what was considered a delicacy on her planet.

"I don't care! That mush ain't going anyway near my mouth!" he yelled, pushing her away with a large electric shock. She tumbled backwards, crashing into Cyborg. Her bowl flew into the air and landed with a slosh on Cyborg's head. Tempest bust into peels of laughter, almost falling of his chair.

At that moment, Beast Boy entered the room. "Hey guys, what's up?" He questioned nervously as the bulky Cyborg came racing towards the tiny Gar with his huge arms outstretched, coiling around him the instance they touched his slender form. Beast Boy found himself letting slip a tiny squeal as he was forced off his feet into the air, with such great force that he sudden felt very sick. Letting him go, Beast Boy sank to the floor.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" Cyborg yelled. He then lower his voice. "You are okay aren't you BB?"

Beast Boy ran his fingers through his emerald green hair. Was he okay? What a bizarre question? He stared at his friend with a look of curiosity twinkling in each eye. "Yes..?" he nodded.

"That's great!" Cyborg cheered. "I'm so glad you've decided to stop moping over Raven and come out of your pit." A sense of relief passed over the Titan. Things were getting back to normal. All they had to do now was stop a colossal, egotistical daemon bent on in slaving humanity. Cake.

Meanwhile Beast Boy had flashed a quick glance in Azar's direction. She was sat with her back to him, perched on the edge of the sofa, drenched in dark blue. Gar didn't have to see her face to know that her eyes would be pressed tightly shut. Her face almost a statue, completely expressionless. She was meditating. Preparing her mind, body and spirit for the hours of battle ahead of them. Beast Boy couldn't help thinking how alike she and Raven were. But then what should he expect? Azar had been the one to raise Raven. The only person who had truly wanted the girl to remain in Azarath. It must have killed her to watch Raven leave. Maybe she did have a mother's love for Raven. Love for Raven? Beast Boy had awoken that morning well aware of the events of last night. Staring at his reflection for several hours, he had tried with no success to recall what his love for Raven had felt like. But he couldn't. It had worked hadn't it? What he had so desperately wanted? Yet Gar was unwilling to admit his suddenly feeling of emptiness now that his love was departed.

It was then that Robin decided to leap into action. Turning to the other titans he addressed them as through he was a general and they his troupes. The usual inspirational speech required for boosting the morally flooded from the young man's lips, then he paused.

"Where are Jericho and Raven." Robin was met with four blank faces.

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Jericho's pale face had become even whiter. As if Raven's words had had the power to drain all colour from them. She stiffed uncomfortable upon the bed. Her dark violet eyes refusing to met with his. Joey also sat very still, trying to comprehend what had just been said. Noticing that Raven was avoiding eye contact only lead him to confirm that she was indeed full of shame. And why shouldn't she be? The whole world was falling apart and she was the cause of it. Shutting out the rest of the world out, Jericho surged through the daemon girls mind, like an open book. As he did so, he felt sure that Raven not only knew that he was doing so, but that she wanted him to. Unlocking her chamber of horrors, Jericho felt an ounce of pity overpowering him. Never able to truly express herself. To experience any form of emotion. The harshness of her mother's rejection. And now the overwhelming fear that she was about to lose everything she had come to love. This beautiful creature of whom had been fated with this great task. Either way it seemed the cosmos didn't want to see Raven happy.

Sitting up straight, Jericho came back into his own raging thoughts. Was Raven aware of how important she was to the other Titans? That it was she who held them together? Her extreme coldness, her lack of emotions, through the five years the Titans had been together it was this that they had come to expect, to trust in, that it was unchangeable. Quite possible the one thing that was. They needed her. And just look what had occurred when she had tired to change, to give into her emotions. The Titans had almost fallen apart. Surely she had to know that by saving the world she would be inability destroying the Titans? He sighted. His hands making the usual gestures.

Raven are you sure you know what you're doing?

"Yes." The girl was suppressing all her sentiments. "I have no other choice." Her hand trailed smoothly across her stomach.

That's not true. Please I'm begging you to discuss this with the other Titans.

Raven shook her head. "No. I can't do that. They wouldn't understand. And I have to do this."

Then you won't be doing it alone. He smiled gently as he took her hands in his and gave them a tiny squeeze. Her face lit up in an enchanting smile shone through her gracefully features. This dark beauty, Jericho thought, I can see why they love her.

Still it was quite strange. Jericho through to himself, the knowledge that shortly he would be making the ultimate sacrifice. That this would be the last time he would ever see his mother or his friends again. All his senses had been pointing to this, why hadn't he worked them out? Of course there would be nothing. He would be dead so he for him there really would be. Yet despite knowing all this, Jericho held no fear. It was almost as it the burden of waiting had been lifted. But still why couldn't he be sad that he would soon be leaving his friends for good? Why could he shed no tears for his mothers sorrow? Hadn't she suffered enough? He woke abruptly from his thoughts to see Raven trying to hold back a laugh.

He frowned at her. What?

Raven shrugged. "It's nothing. It's just…" her smile instantly disappeared and was covered by a cold grimace. "Here you are wishing you could feel more for the ones you love, and here I am longing to feel less…" She seemed embarrassed and so looked away, taking her hands from his.

Magic can't take his love away from you.

Raven stared at him in astonishment. Her mouth formed a large, round O. "How did you……." She stared, but stopped. Dark purple curls covered her colourless face. For a moment it looked as if she might start crying again.

Nor yours for him.

Jericho's voice echoed in her head. Suddenly Raven jerked her head up sharply.

"What would you know about anything!" She demanded, tears streamed down her subtle cheeks. "I don't love Beast Boy! I never have…it was just… I don't know what it was but it wasn't love!" She folded her arms above her chest, turning away from the blonde boy.

Jericho stood up from the bed. His hand touched Raven's shoulder gently. His sharp hands made such delicate movements.

That may be what your head say's, but it's not what your heart say's.

Her accusing glaze shot through him. "How do you know this?" She hissed. "Are you reading my mind?"

Jericho shook his head. I am like a ghost in this world. I can only think and feel what others do. It did always use to be this way, but I've felt it getting stronger with each pasting day. Don't you understand Raven, I can feel your pain because you've practically screaming it at me. He paused. A look of misery flickered within his eyes. I suppose in a way, I've always felt like I was never long for this world.

Without warning Raven spread her arms and tangled them around the other boy's back. There they stood, fixed in that position, sharing a brief moment of intimacy.

"You hate your father too." Raven whispered in his ear. Breaking apart, Jericho nodded with shame. Believing that she was the first person he had ever admitted this too, that included himself, Raven felt a feeling a trust blossoming within her heart. Rubbing his trembling lip, she smile sweetly. "Guess you and I are more alike then we first thought."

Jericho nodded, unable to return her smile. I can't explain my hate for him. I don't know where it comes from.

Raven squeezed his hands tighter. "Maybe your senses are telling you he's bad news."

Maybe. Joey shrugged. I guess we'll never known now will we?

A moment of silence passed over them. Jericho raised his fingers to converse. We never belonged, did we? Not even here within the tower, with out friends? No matter how hard we tried.

"No I guess we didn't." Raven agreed. "I would have like to."

You have to tell Beast Boy the truth. He deserves to know.

Opening her mouth to speak, Raven suddenly stopped. Letting go of Jericho, she leapt backwards, hovering in the air, as if desperately searching for something.

What is it?

Raven gestured for him to be silent. Linking her mind with that of Azar's she confirmed the daunting truth.

He's here, isn't he? Jericho shuddered. Raven gave a nod.

"Show time."

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