1Thanks to those that reviewed whether it was good or bad. Hey even neutral is good. I'm pretty indiscriminant. Raven's thoughts here and a little action. That's about it
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans so lets not try and sue me since I don't have anything to sue for.
Ch 2: Is it too much to ask for?
Stupid Idiot! Who the hell does he think he is! Azarath …Metrion …Zinthos. I need to calm down. Raven's mantra flowed through her mind over and over again trying to find relax herself. She had told Robin she was going bed, but she was far too worked up for that to ever happen. She also knew better than to try to sleep, lest the nightmares return. Robin had no idea what he was talking about. He stood there all smug and confident in his abilities to help her but nobody could help her, no matter how desperately she needed it, ho desperately she wanted it.
"Of all things to say, why did you have to mention Hell Robin. I know you have no idea what is coming or what I am but of all things why say that." Raven quietly played over her leaders words in her head. She had heard the same lines as if rehearsed by every member of her time following her birthday. She knew they cared, she knew that all they wanted to do was aid her in her troubles, but all she wanted to do was continue running from the truth.
However, tonight Robin's words had been different. She had felt so much from him when he had touched her through their link, so many conflicting emotions. She could feel the warmth emitting from him along with several other emotions she couldn't wrap her mind around. It was the same she felt from the others yet completely different in its own right.
"What were you feeling Robin. What were you…No." Raven finished her thought almost barely audible. It finally hit her like a ton of bricks. She knew exactly what that emotion was and to say the least, she was pissed off.
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! How dare he! Who do I look like, some naive little alien princess who's going to fall at his feet at the slightest touch. The nerve of that man! Sure I'm flattered I mean he is wonderful. Why would he l…hold it right there Raven. If you don't say it, maybe its not really happening. This whole situation is only going to cause problems for everyone and I can't afford to have any more problems right now. I can't let them get any closer to me right now, especially him.
It's getting too dangerous with Slade's return. Damn emissary of Satan. Why did my father choose now, just when everything was finally going good for me. I have a home, friends, R…" Raven was pulled from her musing by the explosion of a light bulb. Letting out a deep sigh she began chanting again. How she hated her emotions, her father, her damn cursed existence. Why couldn't she just have one moment of peaceful bliss. Was it too much to ask for?
"Later today, I'm really going to have to straighten out Robin. He's too important to the team, too important to me to allow him to walk this path. It would be so much easier if he turned is affections toward Starfire. I mean those two are supposed to be together and I'm destined to be alone…or dead. Another sigh escaped her tiny body as she continued to become more depressed. Maybe I should just tell him everything. One last shot to find some acceptance maybe event something greater. Suddenly, a flash of red and a high pitch wailing alerted Raven to the alarm. Gritting her teeth, Raven teleported through the wall and floated down the hall to the main room. All the Titans stood there accept Beast Boy who was still asleep clutched under Cyborg's arm.
"So Rob, who we looking at the wee hours of the morning? Mumbo decide to bother us again," Cyborg said with a slight smirk on his face. Robin simply looked at all of us as if choosing his words carefully.
"Its Brother Blood Cyborg. He's finally making his reappearance after his "disappearance from prison." The room suddenly got dead quiet. The silence was broken by a high pitched squeal from Beast Boy. Apparently after hearing the news, he had clenched so tightly that he started crushing the small changling underneath his arm.
"Hey watch it there man. Some of us are trying to sleep." One look into Cyborg's human eye burning with fury shut up Beast Boy real fast.
"Lets go take out the trash," and with that the Titan's were on the move.
Still Raven P.O.V.
The T-car and the R-cycle pulled up to where Brother Blood had been sighted only to find that nothing seemed to be going on. Standing in the middle of the street stood Brother Blood in his trademark robes with his trademark smirk across his face. The moonlight gleamed off his cybernetic implants. Standing next to him completely covered from head to toe in robes was an unknown figure. The Titans assembled in front of their targets, treading cautiously awaiting Robin's signal.
"Ah dear Cyborg. Welcome. It has been such a long time since I've seen you. Looking well as usual. Is that a new paint job?" Brother Blood chuckled to himself enjoying his little joke at the expense of Cyborg. Oh how he loved taunting his favorite "ex-student."
"Shut up Blood. Its time I put your scrawny ass back in jail where you belong. I don't know how you got out but it ain;t happening again," retorted Cyborg. One could almost feel the anger coming off the metal man. He needed to calm down. Anger never solved anything.
"Ah yes. My miraculous escape. You can thank everyone's favorite sociopath Slade for that one. He needed my special services for his newest plan so here I am. A free man who is just aching to get some revenge, but that is not why I am here at this moment. Call this an experiment if you will but I'm actually here to test out my new "student". I'm sure you'll just love him. He is exceptional and completely under my control I might add." I think that second malicious grin was too much for Cyborg. His anger had reached a boiling point and he finally exploded.
"Enough. I don't give a damn what you're here for, who your with, or what connection you have to Slade. I am going to kick your butt. Eat this Blood." Cyborg unleashed his sonic cannon directly at Blood who only seemed to grin wider. Just as I felt Robin forming the words to yell his battle cry of "Titan's Go" I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the sight in front of me. The person standing next to Brother Blood had stepped into the path of the blast. A single arm was raised and a hand was revealed. Rather than bend away as was we had seen of Brother Blood's power before, the blast simply absorbed into the hand as if it had never been there before.
An enraged Cyborg began charging the enemy only to be met with his own attack coming screaming back right at him. It connected squarely with his chest sending him flying back across the street into a car parked on the street. I could hear the mocking laughter of Brother echo down the street as Cyborg laid unmoving on top of the now crushed car.
"Really now Cyborg. That temper has always been a problem hasn't it. I guess that little lesson has taught you not to be so hasty. Im sure you'll find that blast to be significantly stronger than your own little toy. Now come on Titans. I'm sure you can do better than Tin man over there. "
Brother Blood's eyes burned crimson as the other individual lowered his arm and took a step forward. I tried to get a read on this new student but met heavy resistance because of Blood's mind control powers but also something else. It felt as if it's mind itself involuntarily recoiled in disgust at my presence. I didn't have anymore time to think about it because Robin finally managed to get his words out. Starfire and Robin charged forward as Beast Boy ran to check on Cyborg who still hadn't moved. I picked up a nearby car and hurled it at the target. The resulting explosion from the car, Robin's explosive birdarang, and a barrage of Starfire's starbolts, lit up the night sky at exactly where the "student" should have been. Brother Blood didn't even flinch at the explosion despite the close proximity of it.
I tried to see through the resulting smoke but it was far too thick. Suddenly I felt an unknown presence behind me, I started to turn around already chanting my words only to be cut off at Metrion. A fierce grip wrapped itself around my throat. The cold hand of the enemy lifted me up in front of me. Glowing red eyes peered out from under the hood boring into my own. In an instant, the eyes flashed to a pale blue and that's when I felt it. Words were being forced into my head. They were faint but somehow they had penetrated both Blood's and my own mental shields.
"Help me. Free me." That was all I could make out before getting one last look at blood red eyes and succumbing to unconsciousness.
Robin P.O.V:
I hurled my birdarang in a fit of fury right at the Titans newest enemy. The combined attacks of my fellow titans and myself erupted in flame but I did not stop there. It was never that easy. I extended my bo staff and charged through the smoke looking for my attacker only to find nothing. It was as if the student had disappeared. After a few moments the smoke had finally cleared and I stood face to face with Brother Blood. I was expected to be confronted with his arrogant smirk and some taunt but was shocked to find a different sight. Brother Blood seemed to be having some internal struggle. His eyes were burning red, and I could almost see a bead of sweat forming on his normally immaculate face. Suddenly, Brother Blood looked up and completely looked passed me as if I was the most insignificant thing on Earth and yelled.
"Stop. Do not harm the Daughter SoulBurn. I repeat do not harm the Gate."
I looked back to see what he was looking at only to find my mind completely go blank. I started running toward Raven without even a single thought. She was being held by her throat by whoever this SoulBurn was. Black energy seemed to be seeping out of Raven into him or her. I watched Raven being thrown to the ground, discarded as if she had no more use.
On vicious instinct, I throw my entire body at her attacker slamming us both into the pavement. The hood of the robe fell from the head revealing a young man no older than me. His eyes glowed the crimson evident of mind control and his face was nothing extraordinary. The only unusual aspect was the young man's hair. It was pure white. I stared at him for a few seconds before he suddenly vanished in a flash of blue. I turned back to Brother Blood to find him and SoulBurn standing back in their original position but now I found that same symbol that adorned Slade's mask on Brother Blood's forehead. He still seemed to be under some invisible strain.
"Well titans. This is over for now but I will return. Give Cyborg my love." And with that they were both gone in flashes of light. I ran over to Raven cradling her in my arms as I had done when after I had saved her on her birthday. Where her throat had been gripped there were burn marks in the shape of a hand. I checked her pulse and was relieved to find a stead beat. She looked so peaceful in her state, so beautiful. I was pulled from my thoughts as Starfire landed next to me with a frightened look on her face.
"Star get her to the infirmary NOW! I yelled a little to loudly but I had no time to apologize. "Beast Boy fly Cyborg there too. Everyone lets go." I rushed over to my bike and started it. In an instant I was racing back toward the tower with one thought on my mind, "Raven please be okay."
