Wrathchylde- Glad I caught your interest. It only gets better- I hope. If not, let me know so I can fix it.
Raven and Nightwolf- Thanks for reviewing. I hope you find the inspiration.
little-raven2992- It's supposed to be sad- for the beginning, at least.
Fernnu- I'll keep writing, even if no one keeps reading. I can't leave off at that point- that's just wrong.
Thanks to all reviewers. If you read without reviewing, shame on you! chastises with the Carrot of Destruction Yes, I am insane, but sanity limits creativity. Click the Review button! It's calling your name/your name! See? I told you. I'll shut up now.
Beast Boy searched everywhere. She was not in Jump City. He would know, even if there was just one whiff on the breeze. As a bloodhound, he would smell her. He would rather search with the keener senses of a wolf, but there was the probable chance that a wolf would be shot before someone noticed it was green.
Cyborg used technology. He used pattern-finders to guess where she could have gone, but they always went back to the same place- just under their noses, after the initial period of being missed. He used world-wide scope cameras available to superheroes to search for dark violet hair or bright violet eyes, but didn't see a glimpse. He then made the ultimate sacrifice. He searched fan websites.
He searched his own first, concentrating on message boards. His site was filled with technophiles more than capable of tracking his provider to Titans' Tower, proving him to be the "real deal," as one fan gushed. He ignored requests for cyber-autographs, begging for stalled online community servers, and pleas to arrange a visit to a fan club. No one had seen Raven, occasionally noticed only because she was usually around him.
Starfire's fans were friendlier, for the most part. They offered to look around. Accepting that he was the real Cyborg without complicated background checks, they listened to stories of a missing Raven for a while before asking if Starfire was upset. Hearing their favorite Titan was devastated (not Cyborg's word), an entire platoon of fans scoured the streets. Raven was again proved to not be in Jump City. Thanking them, he decided to head for sites dedicated to Robin.
Those fans were more solitary. Quite a few females left the page when he asked about Raven. Fewer fans offered to help. They were self-sufficient enough to remind Cyborg of Robin. No one there had heard of or seen her. He decided not to include a few web pages in the general server for Titans' Tower. The content would more than likely be enough to throw a certain Tamaranean princess into a rare fit of anger, as she was quite insistent that another person's boyfriend was not to be admired in such fashions. He decided to leave Robin's sites entirely and concentrate on the annoying-but-affable Beast Boy's- one Robin was more than enough for him.
Beast Boy-dedicated chat rooms were much more diverse. Cyborg pointedly ignored the groups of boards devoted to green skin, the versatility of shape-changing, and pointed ears. His fans liked Raven, except for the few pointed-ear forum leaders angry he was spoken for. Everyone knew that Beast Boy and Raven were together except the couple. No one knew a thing, except a stylist who had seen a violet-haired girl wearing sunglasses and a clinic-issue bandage on her forehead. That had been a month ago, and she hadn't known to look for a Titan in an outfit Starfire would choose.
Raven's site had already known. All her fans congregated on a single web page, not wanting to splinter away from the smallest but most devoted of the fan groups. Her fans were serious- any reported sighting of her would be true. The frequent visitors were not at all the expected Goths, heavy metal 'shippers, or outcasts. They included people of all ages and races and social classes. There hadn't been a sighting since three days after she left. Cyborg had not gone at all forward from where he started.
Starfire spoke to reporters. People had grown nervous at the disappearance of a hero, so she cleared away rumors by issuing a statement. Starfire earned a byline in even the smallest of remote publications. Raven Roth was invited home by the Teen Titans, and was missed. Starfire only reluctantly left out how single-mindedly a certain green Titan searched for her. There was no use in giving away a weakness to villains.
Robin called Bruce Wayne. The tycoon quietly sent four of the best private detectives in the business to Jump City. Not one found a lead. Robin searched as well, taking time away from his usual obsession with Slade. He and the rest of the team seemed a little less connected, though a forced-to-be-stiff Goth was hardly the glue that bound the team together. They had all lost a friend, and it showed.
Raven had been the one to understand Robin's need to prove himself, Starfire's feelings of being a step behind, Cyborg's feelings of not fitting in because of what, more than who, he was, and that Beast Boy needed his sometimes horrible sense of humor because he couldn't let himself be too serious. Humor was a defense mechanism, one much more effective than cutting out all emotion entirely.
The searches gradually slowed. Starfire stopped her appeals to the newspaper, deciding instead on an annual reminder on the anniversary of her disappearance, September 23rd. Robin slowly began to renew his preoccupation with Slade. Cyborg created an e-mail account in his internal system to receive news of a Raven sighting. Beast Boy stopped prowling the entire city, but still spent more time moping than facing Cyborg in the latest video game. He wouldn't even watch the new sequel to Wicked Scary. Instead, he choked down a cup of herbal tea, without sugar. Grimacing, he would extol its virtues as a drink. No one else joined him, though Starfire added tea to her hot chocolate mix in place of hot water, stirred in mustard,and labeled it "wondrous."
December 23rd was the third month after Raven left, much too close to Christmas for anyone's comfort. They had celebrated Christmas because no one adhered to a particular faith, and Starfire's holidays of fungus were too strange. Exchanging gifts was something they could all do. After a short discussion, they agreed to keep the holiday. Raven would want them to.
Christmas morning's weather agreed with the mood in Titans' Tower. The snow fell into a gray slush, making it unpleasant to trudge around on the roof. All woke up late- no one was in any hurry to dash downstairs, not even Starfire or Beast Boy. A knock on the door sent a sleepy Starfire to answer. She found a falsely cheerful delivery man. She signed for the package and slipped him a tip large enough to authenticate his smile.
"What is it?" Robin asked, a yawn distorting the words.
"It doesn't have a name or address from a sender." Starfire looked at the address label, and then checked the rest of the package. The Titans had enemies. "It has one sticker- To Spinach, From Rae."
"That's her." Beast Boy was sure. If he was blushing, his skin hid it well in the dim lights before Cyborg flipped a switch. "She called me that, for the last week before she left. She said it was about the only thing that was greener than I was, besides the Grinch."
Cyborg shot the package with a low-level blast, effectively vaporizing the tape along with the outer layer of the box. Inside were four meticulously wrapped packages, each neatly labeled in familiar handwriting. Starfire's was orange, Robin's yellow, Cyborg's blue, and Beast Boy's what else but green. There was no consultation. Everyone began to open their present at the same time.
Starfire found a makeup kit with a short note explaining a friend guaranteed the cosmetics perfect for orange skin, and an address in case refills were needed. Cyborg had a legal plate for the T-Car that he knew would go on immediately- it was street-legal and had pre-paid tabs. The others knew it was perfect for him- CYSBABY. Robin had been given a personal letter from the police chiefs of nearby cities, inviting him to patrol for Slade at any time, with full back-up by police if needed. Beast Boy's was unexpected- a book. This book, however, outlined the advantages almost all animals with a possibility to inflict bodily harm had in different types of fights, pitting such unlikely duals as narwhal and hippopotamus. Flipping through the book, he found a letter tucked next to the page about ravens, Corvus corax.
Merry Christmas, guys. (Starfire, I'm referring to everyone- guys is a general term usually used for close friends, which I consider you all to be.) This is my first Christmas not spent with you all at the Tower- Azarath isn't big on holidays. Meditating is the national sport- what do you expect? I really am sorry about the first year's presents- I thought Christmas was a prank.
I've worked a few things out, since I left. Maybe I was a bit too ready to run instead of work everything out, but I've needed to fly around this planet with my own two wings for a long while. No, the gifts aren't clues- they're tokens to reassure of continued affection. Yes, Robin, I've read the same textbooks on psychology. Sometimes, a present is just a present.
Robin, my contacts won't sell me out. Star, my lady on the inside won't bill you for a thing- a lifetime supply's on me. I helped her out with something (completely legal, so no one better get any ideas). Cyborg, the plate was registered by me in the Secretary of State's office, under my legal name. Beast Boy, the book is from a doctor of animal behaviorology. Dr. Leed would be thrilled to have you, full ride tuition. He signed it and left his number. Even if you don't feel like going to college, call the man. He would die for an interview.
Maybe I'll swing by sometime, but don't hold your breath. I'm not likely to be there to heal you. I miss you all, but being part of the crowd is really something. I wish I could have both worlds, but I can't. I'll be around- it's a pretty small world, when you get down to it, and yes, I just quoted a song from the conglomeration of adultured fairy tales.
-Raven
P.S. Starfire, I miss your help shopping, girl-talks, and giggling like a six-year-old human girl without a care in the world. I think of you whenever I hear laughter.
P.P.S. Cyborg, I miss garage talks and your insistence on meat. Hamburgers make me think of you.
P.P.P.S. Robin, I miss talking to you about anything and everything (except topics covered under girl-talk), and beating you over the head when you were bugging out about Slade. Cyborg, take that duty. Starfire might break our Fearless Leader, who reminds me of every person looked to in anything, even as simple as a child's game.
P.P.P.P.S. Last and certainly not least, I miss you, Beast Boy, and our sunset vigils. Sunrises are the same things, but backwards. Every time I hear a stupid (or even funny) joke, I miss you. Don't beat yourself up- that's my job, I chose to leave, and I'll be back. Some day, at least. It's really hard to write this, but I have to get it out of my head. I can't keep strong emotions inside without bouncing off the walls. Can you imagine me hyper? I still can't. It just happens. There's a new emotion, all colors swirled together and never staying still. She hasn't said a word, but I'm pretty sure she's someone really special- maybe you know her, maybe you don't. I've had a crush on you since before Terra, after all, so it isn't too much of a surprise. This is a pretty long postscript, but I have enough paper to last me. I'll be seeing you. I probably just screwed up our friendship completely, but I had to say it. Feel free to move on with your life. Don't stay back because I had to run. Just to you, B- Rae.
She had drawn a tiny heart before writing Rae. The letter had been folded quickly, obviously sent impulsively. Anyone looking at Beast Boy's face, even without reading over his shoulder, could tell what his expression meant. No one needed to worry about unreciprocated emotions, then. They both felt the same way.
"Why won't she come back?"
No one could answer Beast Boy's question. No one even tried. Robin paused for just a moment before making his announcement, one that came from somewhere in left field. The Fearless Leader was about to drop a bombshell.