Suspicion Becomes Fact

Mouths pasted since the Demon Hunters' assault. Some wounds take time to heal. Lest the ones not shown. Superboy had such wounds.

First, his ego was bruised. He and his friends, teammates, were beaten and humiliated. Those who were responsible did it as a trap for one of their own. Their rescuer also had a part in this design.

Next his heart was broken. Raven, his heart's secret goal, was the one who the trap was for. Granted he never told her, like she was easy to talk to anyways, he couldn't help her. Their rescuer, who was post to be captured along with Raven, turned the tables. The reason she was captured was arranged marriage between them.

Now his patience was being pushed. Raven's rescuer/Superboy's rival was staying at Titan Tower. Cyborg allowed him to stay and use the repair shop. This Rath Lee had borrowed and broke Robin's bo staff in half. Now he keeping the broken staff and was modifying it because it didn't fit his needs.

He stayed in that room with the door. To enter, one had to ask permission. It was theirs not his. Occasionally food was left in front of the door.

What really gritted his teeth was Raven's behavior towards Rath. Raven would mediate in front of the door, when she wasn't on duty. Superboy's anger would climb. He avoided her.

Mediating, "I should stop acting like I'm experiencing my first crush," she thought.

Wait, she already done that, this was a different experience.

Opening of the door caused her eyes to open. Rath was stepping out adjusting his bag's strap.

Watching her standing up and staring at him, "Shouldn't you be straightening out your cape," replied Rath.

No reply just staring at him. Half grinning and shaking his head turned and walked away. Quickening her pace, she stayed in step with Rath.

"Got what you needed?"

"Yes."

"Planning on leaving?"

"Yes," shifting his eyes towards her, "What's on your mind, Raven?"

Stepping in front of him, Rath had to stop or Raven should've been knocked down.

"What did you mean that I had a choice?"

"In time everything will be revealed even to me," stepping around her.

Trying to stare a hole into Rath's back was not going to help her, so she had to play catch up again.

A sound echoed from a hallway.

Stopping, "What's down there?" Rath asked.

"Training room," answered Raven after she caught up with him.

"Huh," he replied walking towards the sound.

"Trouble," she thought following him.

Superboy, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, and Speedy were in the middle of tag. Wonder Girl was it. Superboy heard the door open. He couldn't believe it was Rath and Raven entering. He didn't notice that Wonder Girl's lasso around his ankle. She pulled him down and he hit the ground hard. Bart ran towards Superboy.

Helping him up, "Kon, what happened?" said Kid Flash, "You let Cassie tag you."

"He wasn't paying attention," said Rath, "Guess I distracted him."

Raven detected steady amount of anger. Looking around, she wondered where it was coming from.

The door opened behind them. It was Cyborg.

"Thanks for the use of the workshop," said Rath with his attention on Speedy.

"Should thank you for saving us," said Cyborg.

"Don't, you may regret it," walking towards Speedy.

He bent over and whispered in her ear. She had a surprised look on her face. Rath walked away and stared at a wall.

Walking towards Rath, "What did you whispered to Mia?" asked Raven.

"Ask her yourself? Since she must chose to trust you," Rath answered without looking away from the wall.

Raven, Superboy, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl went to Speedy.

"What did he say, Mia?" asked Wonder Girl.

"If I was in the right condition to be on the Titans," she said.

Intense amount of anger nearly caused Raven's knees to nearly buckle. Superboy walked by her brushing against her. Now she knew where the source of the anger was coming from.

"Why is he anger with Rath?" she thought, "Need to keep an eye on this."

"What did you mean?" demanded Superboy.

"Mean about what?" Rath asked without looking at him.

"About Mia shouldn't be on the Titans."

Still staring at the wall, "Didn't say that. More like is she in the right condition to be on the Titans. That is her decision and the rest of the Titans to decide."

"Stop talking in riddles and look at me when I'm talking to you."

Turning around and folding his arms, "Is that better?"

"Don't know who you think you are?"

"I know that I'm Rath Lee."

Seething, "You use our workshop for payment for rescuing us."

"Ask Cyborg, your leader, for use of the workshop to modify the broken bo that I borrowed."

"What claim do you have to it?"

"I think the original owner wouldn't like a broken bo staff. Instead of throwing it away, I gave it new life."

"You made Raven look foolish by waiting outside the door."

Laughing, "Funny the kettle calling the pot black. Well I didn't make her do that. Did it interfere with anything important? Besides I couldn't predicate that she was waiting."

Superboy didn't realize that he was acting foolish then again anger does that.

"Someone needs to hit you."

"Superboy, don't know what got into you," said Cyborg, "Stop this now."

"Better listen to him," said Rath, "You might get into something you might regret."

Getting into Rath's face, "You are not as tough as you think."

"You know better?"

"I'm challenging you."

"No."

"You're a coward."

"No, that he would embarrass you," came from Raven.

"Listen to your teammate, she might have some insight you may what to hear," Rath said.

"She stays out of it, it's between us.'

"And you're lying," sighing, "Fine, the rules."

"The loser must be unable to fight."

"Ok, always wanted to see if I could handle a flyer," removing a small cylinder from his coat pocket.

"Why?" going up into the air.

"Can't fly," pushing a button revealing the bo staff.

Rath revealing he couldn't fly gave Superboy an edge. Using heat vision, he shot at Rath. It went through Rath.

What Superboy didn't know was, that Rath had a technique called after image. It basically was that Rath had left an image of him behind as he moved.

Puzzled by this, Superboy didn't detect a grappling hook being released. Before realizing he may have gotten himself over his head, an arm wrapped around his neck. Another arm slided around Superboy's left arm. Rath's left grasped his right wrist.

Pain shot through Superboy's neck forcing him to the ground. Pain increased as Superboy tried to break the hold, but the pain made it difficult.

"Give up?" asked Rath.

"No."

Pain kept coming. Superboy didn't know how Rath was able to do this. Blackness started to cloud his vision. It was a matter of time before Superboy would be unconscious.

"Stop, let him go," said Raven.

"Why?" asked Rath.

"If you let him go, I will go with you."

"You would do that?"

Raven nodded her head.

"No," letting Superboy go, "not this way."

Rubbing his neck, Superboy was about to rush Rath when Raven appeared between them.

"No, it stops here."

Tipping his hat, "Be seeing you, Raven," remarked Rath walking out the training room.

"Why?" asked Superboy.

"He had you beat."

"You were willing to go with him."

"Yes, I believe he waits me to go with him. But under my freewill, that's why he let you go. He didn't what me to decide with something over my head," Raven said leaving.

Rath almost made it outside, "Wait," stopped his feet.

Turning, it was Starfire.

"Yes, Starfire."

"What are your intentions for Raven?"

"To train her."

"Is that it?"

"Is there more."

"Your father said it was your destiny to marry her."

"And you believe that?"

"Her behavior changed since you been here."

"I don't know her very well. How am I post to know how she behaves?"

"Isn't it an Earth custom to marry those who are destine for each other?"

"Thing about destiny is that an individual can choose. Fate can not. All fate does is prepare one for when the time to chose without second guessing oneself. When Raven has to choose, I must respect it and so will you, her good friend," turning and walked out the door.

Around the corner, Raven listened. Some pieces were coming together. Rath still had the rest of his hand to show.