Mind Games
Wowzerz...I feel like I haven't updated in forever...and it's only been four days! lolz. Seriously, though, I'll have to admit, I was and still am truly timid to post this chapter. You have no idea how much I'm shaking right now, lolz! So far it was the hardest one for me to write, and frankly, I don't think the next one'll be a doozy either. So when you flame me, please make it somewhat constructive. XD.
This part isn't as dramatic as the others because I was just so happy during the past four days...which is really BAD! God forbid any of you try to do a dramatic ficcy with Raven in it and are HAPPY! 'Tis terrible...gave me a bit of writer's block, that did.
Which reminds me, props go out to WitchGirl, who, though this ficcy is dedicated to her, tried to help me with this chappie...and everything she said was everything I had thought about. "Great minds..." :P. Btw, if you ever go to read a ficcy of hers, be advised...SKIP THE PROFILE!!! I mean it, not even a GLANCE at it! Just go straight down to her snazzy fics!
Which also reminds me, keystone is in the process of writing a friggin' awesome possum ficcy called "Hell's Angel". Read it. Review it. It's...well, awesome possum. Perfect example of imagery. Frankly, it thoroughly pisses me off that the story's hardly being reviewed. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT! It rox mah sox!
This chappie also adds to the confusion, which, btw, it has now become a favorite hobby of mine during this fic to see you all trying to guess what's going on...some of you are relatively close, and I generally LMAO! So take out your lil' list o' clues there, and analyze this baby, because nothing, I repeat, NOTHING will be explained until the very end. ::cackles::
As usual I thank you all! DUDES...58 reviews...3 chapters...makes me feel like Love Potion No. 9 was a total waste of time, lolz! But good things happen when ya wait...and this story and you peeps reviewing are definitely the best thing that's happened to me yet! Hellz no I'm not sucking up; honesty is the best policy.
I will respond to my reviews at the end of this chappie. Everyone who reviewed is responded to. With all of that said, enjoy! :D
A Shred of Evidence
Breakfast the next day was just as dismal as the night it preceded. There was no vivacity in the room. No one to cheer things up.
It was all too quiet.
And though Raven constantly pressed for such tranquility, she couldn't stand it now. The silence came at the wrong time.
It was all Raven could do to keep herself situated next to her friends – who, she sensed, were often stealing glances at her while she merely poked at her breakfast sausage.
In all honesty, she really didn't want to be next to them right now. After all, none of them had confirmed that they believed her.
When Robin led her into the Tower last night, the two came in to find the main room deserted. Starfire and Cyborg had already retired to their sleeping chambers. It was at this first moment of absolute silence – save for the wind that blew so carelessly through the shattered window – that Raven, and most likely the rest of her fellow Titans, realized just how much of an asset Beast Boy's persona was in the Tower….
Look at us… Raven thought, still poking at her sausage, not feeling hungry in the slightest. We're acting as though he's dead. I mean, sure, the video games aren't on by now, and there's no one complaining about tofu for breakfast…but he's still alive…why isn't that enough? Why can't anyone believe me?
Cyborg was the first to stand up. He trudged to the garbage, emptying the morsels that remained on his plate, and then made his way to the sink, where he abandoned his dishes.
His voice was the first the pierce the silent barrier that fell within the Tower. "Yo, anybody know who's got dish duty?" he asked while slowly leaving the kitchen, hoping the weeklong chore didn't go to him.
"…Beast Boy," Robin answered, after swallowing his first bite of breakfast since the four Titans came down.
Starfire winced and Cyborg flinched at the changeling's name. Raven sensed the whole thing coming, but refused to show acknowledgement; she simply thought of this as the perfect opportunity to escape the breakfast table.
"It's okay. I'll do them," she offered, grabbing her plate, cup, and silverware, and making her way to the sink.
Even the sound of rushing water from the kitchen faucet didn't seem loud enough to break the silence that the room underwent once again.
And the tension…as cliché as the thought was, the tension was so thick, it truly could have been cut with a knife.
It felt as though every action Raven performed put her friends at guard…like she was some vicious attack dog, and they were the frightened little children armed with mace.
The sound of moving chairs could be heard, and the next moment, Raven felt the auras of Starfire and Robin nearer her. Both of them were emptying their plates clean and disposing of them via the sink.
Starfire was the first, throughout the entire morning, to address Raven.
"Thank you so much, Friend Raven, for volunteering your time to wipe the crumbs off of these repeatedly dirtied utensils," she said, putting on her best…and most fake yet…smile.
The blue-clad girl simply nodded.
Her intentions were good, but Raven could still tell that Starfire was on her guard near her. It hurt, really. How wouldn't it? When one spends a couple of years sharing a house with four other teenagers who become best friends…and all of the trust that was once held in a certain individual is obliterated in one night…it was impossible not to feel anything.
And when one looked past the artificial smile Starfire just gave…she called Raven 'friend'. Did the word seriously maintain its value and still apply? She wasn't sure…but then, she didn't want to question.
Soon enough, the other three Titans decided it was best to finish off the morning with a nice, brisk training session, and – all agreeing – they soon departed for the gym room.
"You're welcome to join us, Raven…if you want to," Robin pressed, in his typical leadership way.
Raven silently scoffed at him; she knew he was pretending the offer, still skeptical about the night before, just like the rest of them…just like her.
"No thanks," she declined, impassively, in her trademark monotone. "I have to meditate."
"Okay. But the offer's always up for grabs," Robin said, leaving the kitchen for the gym room.
And now she was alone.
Engulfed in the silence that had already existed for most of breakfast.
Raven was free to think now, without feeling the tension in her teammates' presence. And her thoughts flowed freely…cleanly…without hesitation or alarm at being disturbed….
Why did they even pretend?! They would've all been downright better off if everyone just admitted that they didn't trust Raven anymore. But, then, nothing came easy, did it? No…life was tough. This was tough.
She lived through the memories in her sleep, in her consciousness…. When silence consumed the room, Raven's thoughts consumed her – without permission, without stopping…
Beast Boy…
How could she do something like that and not know how, or that, she did it?!
The mere thought of it drove the Gothic girl to the brink of insanity!
She had to figure things out.
No.
She had had enough.
Raven put the last plate on a dish rack to dry, wrung out the dishcloth, and tossed it back to its rightful position in the sink.
She didn't need to figure things out. Not as much as she needed to clear her mind of the whole thing. She couldn't afford any of this…not to relive or rethink any of it. Not now, anyway. It was still too early to even want to make sense of things.
Without further thought, Raven pursued the corridor to her room.
---
If she expected meditation to come easy for her, she was wrong.
Raven sighed, and looked at her clock. It was already one o'clock in the afternoon.
And by this time, she couldn't even get herself to levitate right.
The dark girl gave up, got off the ground, and crawled into her bed. It never took her this long to clear her mind, no matter what the circumstances.
And if she couldn't even get herself to focus today, who knows what else could go wrong…
Pointless. The prospect of enduring this entire day just seemed pointless.
There was no use in going downstairs to talk to anyone. No matter what she claimed to have done yesterday, it was three pairs of eyes against one, and Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg all claimed that Raven threw Beast Boy out of the Tower. And if she really wanted to prove them wrong, their evidence had been there…crippled…lying on the rocks outside of the Tower, and what did she have?
What was going on?
She saw Bryan, she felt Bryan, she knew he existed, but there was nothing to show for it.
Raven gave a muffled yell into her pillow, pressing both sides of the plush object on either side of her face with her hands.
Life sucks, she thought, throwing her pillow aside and shifting her weight on her mattress. A soft crinkle near her elbow made her jump unexpectedly.
The Goth sat up and looked down at what her arm had crumbled.
It was a piece of paper…left under her pillow.
…She saw Bryan…she felt Bryan…she knew he existed…but there was nothing to show for it.
Nothing to show for it, until now.
---
The gym room doors admitted Raven in without a problem. She stepped in, crossed her arms, and stood directly in the middle of the doorway, until she was sure everyone knew they were in her presence.
One by one, the Titans stopped what they were doing – Robin in mid-jab, Starfire in mid-flight, Cyborg in mid-lift.
"Er…Hey, Raven," Robin said, addressing her in his leader-like way.
Raven looked around at the three, and noted their expressions. They were still timid around her – not like she expected any change, really. But their emotions towards her, she realized, made her feel more…well, powerful in a way. Unpredictable. Confident. She actually kind of liked the feeling.
"…You're done meditating, I guess?" Robin continued.
Raven looked back at him. "No," she confirmed. "As a matter of fact, I couldn't meditate at all. Not before, or after, I found this." Raven unfolded her arms to reveal the paper she had unintentionally crumbled while in her room.
Starfire piped up. "And what is the occasion for capturing our interest with us such a disheveled and white surface?"
Raven blinked. "It's a piece of paper, Starfire."
The Tameranean looked as though she was processing the information. "Oh. I see," she said, wringing her hands. "Would it…wish to be our friends?"
The other three sweat dropped, while the redheaded alien simply scratched at her neck with a sheepish smile.
"I understand that no one here believes me when I say that yesterday I went to visit Bryan Spencer. And that's fine, considering that you had your fair share of evidence pointing against me," Raven said, looking at them all straight in the eye with intensity. Ferocity.
"I may have done what I did to Beast Boy, but that doesn't change the fact that I still believe that I visited Bryan, too. Now, I don't know what's going on. I don't know if I was in two places at once or what's been happening. But I saw Bryan, I touched Bryan, I know that he exists.
"I can tell you the room number he stayed at, the name of the lady at the desk who let me in, the amount of time it takes for the damn elevator to get to the third floor. I can describe the doctor who was in the elevator near me, show you how I got out of the damn thing because it was so slow, and tell you all about the representative of the Make-a-Wish Foundation who met with me there. And if all of that isn't evidence enough for you that I was at Jump City Hospital yesterday, then this piece of paper…this inanimate object," she said pointedly to Starfire, who smiled sheepishly once more, "is all of the proof you need."
Raven opened up the letter, shoved it towards Robin, who automatically took it, and then turned to the doorway, storming out in confidence.
She won. She knew she had. The situation was still unexplainable, but her point was well proven, whether or not the other Titans chose to believe it.
"Hold on," the gung-ho leader said when he found his voice.
Raven spun around, slightly shaking – the effect of her brilliant execution.
"Come here, Raven," he said, motioning for her.
Raven sighed. "Don't tell me –"
"We're not gonna say we don't believe you, Rae," Cyborg confirmed.
Raven looked at him.
Her monologue seemed to have changed his whole attitude.
"We merely wish to overcome this entire ordeal," Starfire said.
"As a team," Robin finished.
The blue-clad girl looked to her friends, who were all wearing determined expressions on their faces, and she couldn't help but smile. So they believed her?
God, she hoped so.
Robin studied his telekinetic teammate for a moment, and then proceeded to ask her, "What exactly is this?" holding the letter up as if on cue.
"That's the letter I received from Carl Sandberg. He's from the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He's actually the one who greeted me on my visit to see Bryan."
"And you saw him yesterday?" Cyborg inquired further.
"Mmm-hmmm," Raven nodded. "I came back and you guys had said that I threw Beast Boy out the window."
"But these events do not correspond!" Starfire exclaimed. "There must be further investigation and clarification!"
"Don't worry, Star," Robin said, smirking. "Whatever it is, we'll get to the bottom of it. Nothing's impossible for the Teen Titans."
Pssh...you WISH that was the end! Sorry, but when you started reviewing, you pretty much signed up for the long haul! We've gotta good 9 more chappies to do here...remember? Superstitious numbers?
Well, I hope that was enjoyable. 'Twas a really hard one to write. Please, whether you enjoyed it or not, review...or flame, whichever. Now to respond to my precious reviewers!
Zoe Rose: Oh, you rock mah socks big time! Thanks so much for reading "Midnight Snack" too. :D I'm glad you found that enjoyable! And your reviews flatter me as much as you claim I flatter you, lolz! Man, I love a good ego-boost :P.
grimreaper: Thanks so much for the compliment! Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it! :)
idolizar: LMAO!!! Welcome aboard the train of confusion! All will be explained in, I'm planning, chapters 11 and 12. And yes, I do like coffee. Anyone who's even an eighth Cuban in their right minds would love coffee! :P
Sarah-Crysala: tsk tsk...You know better. ::sings:: I'll never tell...Hope you liked this chappie, which'll prolly be the devastating end to my "PAGEMASTA" reputation (am I right, WitchGirl? :P).
FLCLFanaticMyora: Thanks a bunch! You make me smile! :D (And you're welcome! Thank you first!)
keystone: Me? An ego-booster? Now how could you have told me that after your review, huh? "Masterpiece"...I thank you...you flatter me! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY tomorrow! Tee hee hee... :P
Underworld Ruler 0507: Spank you much! Here's to updating! ::clinks of milk glasses:: (...I'm too young to drink :P)
Zodokai: Tee hee hee...glad I could catch ya offguard!
Alexandreta: DUDE. o.O Believe it or not, that Carl Sandberg thing was totally random. It just popped into my head...should I change it? Cuz now the thought of it being a real poet n' all freaks me out...I'm thinking of changing it. Wouldn't really matter to me. The name is irrelevant, but the numbers are. (BIG HINT ALERT! BIG HINT ALERT!)So, yeah, you tell me whatcha think. Oh, and thanks for the compliment concerning Rae. Very much appreciated!
FOGartemisgirl: Isn't confuzzlation funTASTIC?!?! And thanks for answering the Q. :DTHE fog comes
on little cat feet.It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.(Prolly describes how ya feel right about now, huh? lolz. Sandberg's a pretty cool poet.)
ShadowSage2: o.O I almost made you cry? Dude...that's so awesome! Thanks for letting me know that! I'm thrilled my writing could actually have that type of impact...what an ego-boost. ::claps and throws her pom-poms out like a cheerleader on speed:: LMAO! That cracked me up!!! Thanks for all of your kind words! Doesn't mean you can't flame this chappie, though.
Zako Lord of Randomnessness: XD XD XD You have no idea how thrilled I was to hear that! Thanks so much!
Flying Star: Well, I guess it's apparent that I got your e-mail, lolz. And thanks so much for all of your reviews! As for the question... dun dun DUN! Clarification later! For now on, MORE CONFUSION WILL ENSUE!!! WHOO-HOO!!! :P
Buhnana Munkey: What's cookin'?! :P And when are ya gonna update, HUH??? Tee hee...thanks for stopping by to check out this ficcy! I'm flattered that it's on your faves list. XD NOW UPDATE!!! WOOT!!! (Getting hyper here...)
audi katia: Oooh! I've never gotten a rose buhfore!!! XD Spanks a bunch! And thanks so much for reviewing! Your kind words are greatly appreciated!
Angels624: Thanks! Okay! :D
slytheringrl1387: Hewo Tifforz! :D Glad you're thrilled, and I do my work on the compo, so THERE! :P
red: Sure thing, buddy!
Peter the Muggle: WAFF...okay, I was trying to figure this out..."Wicked Arse Fan Fic?" um..."Weird Arse Fan Fic?" Perhaps, "What A F---ed up Fic"? I dunno...I'm trying. Seriously, what's it mean??? :S Thanks so much for reviewing! :D
WitchGirl: (in response to all ::Counts::...FOUR reviews) ROFLMAO!!! You, my friend, are a PAGEMASTA of deep stuff! lolz. E-mail and tell me what you thought I was gonna do that inspired your sequel idea! MUST KNOW! Weeeeeee!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for reviewing this story...and each chapter separately...you truly rock! XD
TamerTerra: LMAO! Your English teacher sounds like she rocks! Apostrophes...but then we'd all be speaking so...Shakespearian-like. Nope. Apostrophes have to stay! :P. Glad I could make you react like you did! Thanks so much for reviewing...and as for "Herbal Tea"...dude, you're crazy! Triple update...WOW!!! :P Props to ya!
Dante Gemini: Ha ha! To the confusion! Oh, I love this! lolz. "maelstrom of bewilderment"...you been reading the dictionary??? :S :P. And no, got 2's on both APs...didn't pass, don't care. As for your e-mails...dude, you don't e-mail me. How am I supposed to respond to nonexistent e-mails?! :S
KeLLy BeaNz: Thank you for the absolute confirmation!!! That was killing my curiosity forever! I can't believe I didn't check there...I've got, like, 4 of the comic books, is all, but they say 'Titans Tower'. Wow...I'm such a nimrod. :P Well, I updated...I'm still scured about it, but no worries. Well...some...I'm not gonna ramble on! Thanks so much for the review!
Remember, whether you have positive or negative things to flame/say to me, I need some constructive criticism. THERE HAVE TO BE WEAK POINTS IN MY WRITING, THERE SIMPLY MUST!!! 'Tis all, spank you much!