Concentration and Meditation

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, duh.


As soon as all the Titans walked into the dining are as they got back from the disturbance, they all set about to go do something. Beast Boy and Cyborg went to the kitchen to make a quick snack. Raven automatically walked off to her room for some quiet reading, and Robin and Element were going to Robin's room to do some strategizing about Slade.

Element waved Robin off before they started, "You get a head start, I'll meet you there, I just want to get a cup of tea first."

As Robin walked off, Element went to get himself a cup. Cyborg walked over to him and started conversing.

"Hey, we're going to do some training tomorrow, and the gang wanted to know if you want to join us. We were going to ask in the morning, but I just couldn't wait."

"Sure, I bet that it'll be fun," he said cheerfully while he poured himself some tea, "I would like to show you guys all that I can do."

"Great, we'll see you in the morning at about ten o'clock, fair?"

"Yep, just don't forget to wake me." As they both shared a laugh, Element walked out to get to Robin's room. Unfortunetely, he didn't know where it is, and soon got lost. After a while of blindly searching, he came upon Raven's room. Finally, someone that can help me. He then proceeded to knock on her door.

As the door partially opened, Element could see Raven's face, and could tell that she was really ticked off.

With an annoyed sounding, flat voice she asked, "What do you want?"

"Sorry if I'm bothering you, but I seemed to have gotten lost, can you point me to Robin's room?"

As she gave him directions, Element kept getting a growing feeling of man, I've got to get out of here or she'll kick my ass. Finally, when she was done, he turned to leave, when he was stopped in his tracks. "One, more thing," Raven said as he nervously turned around, "don't ever knock on my door again."

"Gladly," he said as he started to leave.

"And what's that supposed to mean."

"Nothing, nothing," was all that was heard as he ran away.

Finally getting to Robin's room, he knocked, flinching when Robin opened the door. "Sorry I'm late, I got a little lost."

"What's up with you," he asked as he let Element in.

"I, uh, asked Raven for directions," Robin looked skeptical, so Element continued, "after I knocked on her door."

Robin suddenly got a look on his face like ouch, "Man, do I feel sorry for you."

"Tell me about it, al right, let's get planning."

For hours Element and Robin sat at Robin's desk, studying old hideouts, looking at mats, studying strategies. Discussing where Slade might be from old hideouts and certain crime areas that were obviously the work of Slade. But throughout all that each idea they came up with was shut down. After a long while, Robin just stopped, looked Element right in the eye, and said the two words he's been wanting to say since the meeting. "Why you?"

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Why is it that of all people, you get to fight Slade," suddenly he exploded, "I've been looking for him for months, and suddenly you come here and just say you get to fight him, under what authority!"

For the first time since he came here, Elements face hardened, becoming so still, so serious, it looked like the earth element bonded to him. He looked into Robin's eyes, and firmly, yet with a soft voice, said simply, "That's the thing, Robin, you've been searching for Slade for months," he paused, "I've been searching for him for three years."

Silence, that's all there was after that, and not regular silence, the silence where a pin drop sounded like an explosion.

"I'm... sorry I didn't know..." he stuttered.

"That's okay," his voice sounded a little more light hearted, "as long as you understand what I've been through"

"I think that we should stop for today."

"Good idea," Robin started to get up, "wait, I just thought of something."

"What?"

"You said his last hideout was underground, right?"

"Yes, so?'

"What if he's still underground?"

"No way, it's not like him, too predictable."

"Exactly, he knew that you would think that, so you wouldn't look there, it's the perfect place. And you said that it looked like he perished underground, what if he was injured and crawled to a new place?"

"I think you might be on to something, but we need to make sure."

"Do you have any like sonar or something that could put waves through the ground to detect ant hideout place?"

"No, but I'm sure that Cyborg could make something, I'll go ask him."

"Good, what time is it?"

"Not completely sure, but I know it's sunset."

"How do you know that?"

Robin casually pointed, "Window."

"Wow, I definitely didn't notice that, I'm going to be on the roof if you need me."

"Okay," Robin started to walk off.

"Wait." Robin turned around, "I think I need directions." After that they both burst into a fit of laughter, with Robin shakily giving Element directions.

Element finally got on the roof, staring at the magnificent sunset. All that I need now is a breeze. He suddenly created a gentle one to blow across his body, there we go.

He heard footsteps behind him, turning, he saw that it was Raven. "Oh, it's you," he turned away to once again admire the sunset.

"I, uh, want to apologize for the way I acted before, when you knocked on my door."

"That's fine, that's fine," he paused, "beautiful, is it not?"

"Yes, one of the reasons why I started to meditate up here." She walked up next to him and sat down. "Do you mind?"

"Actually," Raven suddenly raised an eyebrow, "I kind of wanted to ask if I could meditate with you."

"Really?" she asked with a skeptical gaze.

"Yep, I've always found the idea of meditating to my liking, and I thought that you might be a good teacher, so to say."

"All right, then," she patted the space next to her, "join me."

Element sat down, to suddenly float himself up as he saw Raven do. "Clear your mind, and chant with me. Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos. Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos..."

Wow, this feels great, I should have done this before.

I said clear your mind.

Sorry, sorry... oh, great, now I can't clear my mind.

It helps if you focus your mind on the words, not shut up and focus.

For hours they both sat there, chanting under their breath, until finally Raven got up. "That's enough for the day."

"Wow, I feel, great, very calmed, how long have we been out?"

"I never know, but it's dark, so I think we should go to bed."

"Yeah, you know, we should do this together every day, do you mind?"

"No, heck, anyone is better than Starfire."

"Okay, guess that I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night."


You know, I think that so far this is the longest chapter I've written, I think. I don't really have much to say, except that it might take a little longer for me to write the next chapter, it'll be a little difficult to come up with ideas for training. You know the drill, read and review.