Disclaimer: I own no part of the Teen Titans or their associated canon, nor any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N): Okay…chapter 4. I think this will end up being about 9 or 10 chapters long when it's finished.

Chapter 4

Something Worth Dying to Protect

Raven drifted slowly along the halls headed for the training room. It was late. Normally she would be meditating by now, or asleep. Sleep was something she was getting more of recently. She wasn't sure if was the exertion of training with Hunter or the small emotional releases she had been indulging in during them, but she was definitely sleeping better. Her training had been unlike anything she had tried before. Usually when she trained it was to focus her powers, this training on the other hand had been physical. Her powers were what she was trying to restrain. Everyday she picked a different emotion and Hunter had her release her hold on it a little at a time.

Focusing the power that flowed from her emotions was the hardest thing she had ever had to do. Slowly though, incredibly slowly, she was getting it. She hadn't blown anything up in nearly a week. Controlling the training outbursts was easy though compared to controlling the sudden ones. When Beast Boy did something particularly annoying or Cyborg said something incredibly foolish, she really had to fight. The trick she had discovered was to always have something the back of her mind that she wanted her powers to do. Something simple and non-destructive. Each emotion had something different associated with it. It was hard for Fear to create something strong or Sorrow to create something joyous. She currently focused on creating a pile of books. The more she practiced the more emotion she seemed to be able to feel without a major stack appearing near her.

Drifting into the training room she touched down. Hunter was already practicing, or at least warming up. He moved swiftly through various forms and after a minute, drew the short swords that were strapped to the outside of each calf. He had started wearing these recently to their training sessions. After a few seconds of consideration she had remembered that she had seen them that first night when his cloak blew to the side. After a few fluid swings he stopped, sheathed the blades and turned to her. "Ready?" She nodded and stepped onto the training mat facing him. "Okay. So today…happiness."

"Okay." She closed her eyes and concentrated on coming up with something that could make her laugh. After a few moments she had collected a few thoughts. Running them though her mind she slowly released her hold on happiness. Slowly a grin crept across her face, then a smile…

From his seat in the training room's control room Beast Boy watched as Raven giggled and then actually laughed. He was mesmerized by the sound. He has never heard anything so melodic. He barely noticed the small stack of black energy books behind her. Raven was laughing out loud and nothing was blowing up. What the hell was Hunter teaching her? After several moments she slowed to a stop and held merely a grin. Looking around she smiled again seeing nothing had exploded. Soon she once again returned to her somber self and the last book behind her vanished.

"So," he could hear Hunter say, "it looks like you're making quite a bit of progress. Might I ask what you were thinking of?"

"Oh…uh…" She blushed a little bit. "I was…thinking of Beast Boy."

"Beast Boy?"

"Yeah. He's always trying to make me laugh and I never give him the satisfaction. Some of his jokes are pretty funny though."

"It's good to have a friend who's willing to keep trying after so much rejection."

"Yeah…" she said, lost in her own thoughts. "It is."

"Well…I have nothing more to teach you. It's all up you now." She nodded slowly still partially lost in her own thoughts. "So…I was thinking… Want to break off early tonight and go grab some pizza?" She looked up at him surprised. Was he asking her out?

"Uh…"

"It's not like a date or anything. Call it a reward, for how hard you've been training."

"Mmmm…Okay." Turning toward the door they left side by side to take off from the roof.

Meanwhile, Beast Boy entered the training room and stretched a little. Approaching a bag he started punching it lightly. Slowly his speed and power were increasing. So she thought his jokes were funny? She could have at least laughed once in a while or even smiled. And now she was going out with him…that was…just…fucking…great. It took him a moment to realize that he had turned into a gorilla and was bashing the bag into the wall after ripping it from the ceiling. Turning back into him self he made his way back to his room. He needed a hot shower and some sleep.

Downtown Jump City, Mario's 24 Hour Pizza

Raven and Hunter sat on opposite side of the small table in the virtually empty restaurant. It was late and most of the town had already settled in for the night. It would soon be the witching hour, said to be the darkest time of night when spooks wandered the streets. The waitress stood waiting for their order. She had a world-weary face and had been surprised anyone was out on such a dark and cloudy night. The advantage to being the only patrons was the rapid service. Raven actually put time into deciding for a change. Usually she just had whatever the others had left over. After carefully considering the menu she made her choice.

"Canadian bacon and pineapple." The waitress jotted it down and turned to Hunter.

"Hmmm…every meat you've got, mushrooms, both olives and anchovies…" He noticed Raven wince at the mention of the little fish. "Scratch that, no chovies." She nodded and headed back toward the kitchen. Hunter took a sip of water and several minutes of odd silence set in. Each of them looked everywhere but at each other, neither willing to be the first to speak. Thankfully the pizza arrived and they were able to avoid having to say anything of substance for several more minutes as they ate. Finally it could be avoided no longer and Raven spoke.

"So…what do you plan to do once Arkanus is defeated?" Her voice held just a bit of nervousness. He mulled the question for a few moments.

"I don't really know. First I think I'll sleep for about a week… Then maybe go…somewhere…" He shrugged as if to say 'I have no idea where.'

"Well…" She looked down at her half eaten slice as she spoke. "You could stay…here."

"You five have such a harmony going…I'd hate to wreck it." Raven spoke rather more quickly than she intended.

"I don't think the others would mind…I wouldn't…mind… We have the spare room…and you'd be a valuable asset to the team…" her voice drifted off.

"It would be nice to stay in one place for a change…I just might consider it." His eyes drifted off to stare at nothing as he considered the possiblility. Raven let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Her foot hit something hard and she was annoyed to find a small pile of black books next to her on the ground. She focused and they dissappeared. Hunter opened his mouth to say something more when his head froze and then cocked to the side. Suddenly she heard it too. A police siren was coming their way. Instinctivly they both rose and turned for the door. Hunter slipped on his jacket and set the hat on his head. He left a few bills on the table as Raven pulled up her hood and floated toward the door.

Out on the street the sound grew louder until a car careened around the corner across from them and shot down the street. A masked driver and his gun-toting passenger were weaving back and forth across the street. Raven shot off after them, hunter followed a split second later. Cruising above them he got a glimpse of the interior as Raven tried to blast the car. What he saw infuriated him. "Raven! There're kids in the back seat!" She quickly removed the black wall she had erected across the road. She replaced it with a black netting a hundred yards farther up. Unable to dodge the barricade the car swerved and slid into the net coming to a graceless stop.

In the stunned seconds the thugs tried to clear their heads a blazing slash cut across the car just above the windshield. With a scream of pure rage the roof of the car peeled back, folding like a piece of paper as the steel gave way to the strain. Through blurred vision the driver beheld a vision of vengeance. He was scared stupid, convinced the angel of death had come for him. A gloved hand grabbed his shirt and pulled him out of the car, ripping him through the seatbelt. His terrified body was swung to one side before a massive blow sent him flying across the street into a building. The gunman received a similar fate. Floating away from the terrified children Hunter dropped the wings and removed his hat. He threw his head back and breathed deeply into the night air, trying desperately to cool the anger within him.

Raven reached the car and opened the back door she doing her best to look friendly. She pulled off her hood and even tried to smile a little. Where was Starfire when she needed her? Extending her hand she managed to coax the crying children, a boy and a girl, out of the car. Kneeling, she hid her discomfort and wrapped an arm around each of them as they sobbed into her shoulder. "Um…there, there…it's alright now…you're safe…" Unsure of how to continue she merely held them. Looking up to where the gunman lay twenty feet away her heart suddenly froze. She was staring down the barrel of a pistol.

A heartbeat before he could fire a brown blur slid between them. She heard two gunshots and saw the hole appear burned in Hunter's back above his left shoulder blade. In a blur of motion Hunter was on the thug. She watched in horror he beat him to within an inch of his life. First his arm was broken as he dropped the gun. "You like to kinnap little kids huh?" Crack! At least a couple of his ribs must have shattered from that blow. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" She could hear his jaw shatter, blood started pouring from his mouth. "You…son…of…a…bitch!" Each word was punctuated by a monster punch. Hunter drew back for a blow she was sure would be fatal. Catching his hand in a black sphere held him as he turned round, murder in his eye. He heard her voice in his head.

'I think you got him.' Stepping back he let the crook slide to the ground moaning and sobbing in terror and agony. Hunter took several quick steps away and turned, staring into the open sea. When the JCPD pulled up Raven handed the children off to a female officer and gave the sergeant a quick rundown of events. Finishing with the sergent she made her was to the paramedics and inquired after the gunman. "He's had the shit kicked out of him…but he's going to live. Too bad bad if you ask me. Messing with kids…" The paramedic shook his head disgusted. With nothing else to stop her she made her way to Hunter who was still standing, watching the water.

"He's…he'll live." When Hunter replied his voice was low and cracking.

"I almost killed him. I knew he was defensless, he hand no hope of fighting back, but I didn't stop… I didn't care. I wanted him dead. I wanted him to pay…" he looked down at his still gloved hands for a moment before burying his head in them. In the moonlight Raven could see a single tear sliding down his face. "I nearly became like him." Raven knew instantly whom he was referring to. Tentatively putting a hand on his shoulder she tried to sound as confident as she could.

"You are not like him. He wouldn't have stopped. He wouldn't have tried to save those children. In the end you showed restraint, compassion, humanity. You are nothing like him." She pulled her hand away feeling the liquid warmth on his shoulder. Blood was still seeping from the wound in his torso. Focusing she reached out and covered the wound with her palm. A glowing white light penetrated it and shone out the entry wound in his chest. When she pulled her hand away a second later the wound was gone. He stoood and turned to her…smiling lightly.

"Thanks. I needed that. And thanks for the healing too."

"Anytime. Now…how about we head back to the tower…we both could use some rest." He nodded as wings sprang out of his back. Taking off side by side they headed across the bay to Titan tower.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.