I'd like to thank MCBLUE, Chica De Los Ojos Cafe, and Specterrose for their reviews. Also, the others who have added my story to their favorites list adn put me on the alert...thing...anyways, thanks.
Disclaimer: The Teen Titans do not belong to me…
Soothing balm may cease the pain
The body blows impart
But what can heal the deep cut wounds
Inflicted on the heart?
-Claire Richcreek Thomas
Robin remained on the roof for quite some time, until he was sure that the titans had retired for the day. Why had he asked that? What are you afraid of? He remembered her reaction. Her wrist had been ripped away from his grasp and in a flash of dancing black flames she was gone.
"Raven…" he muttered to himself before leaving the roof and heading to his room.
Raven heard his door open, and close, letting out a rather pained sigh. She had been listening intently for the entire time he had remained upon the roof, no intention of coming from her room until all of the titans had returned to their chambers. Her emotions for the moment, were in check but she could feel herself slipping. No one knew what the state of her mind was better than her but she denied it to herself.
Her thoughts drifted back to the vision. Her killing…or at least attacking the other titans. Raven drifted over to her bed and sat cross legged in the center, her head falling into her hands.
"I would never…" Raven knew that was not true. Though she would never intentionally hurt any of the titans, she knew too well what she was capable of if Slade got the best of her. He was a smart man and could, especially with Trigon's help and Raven's mind's deterioration, achieve this. Raven fell back, sprawling out on the large bed, and in a few moments, was tucked in a fetal position. Vulnerability was always avoided, weakness could be prevented.
Restlessly, she rose and paced, racking her mind for answers to the question. 'What should I do?' The mirror glared from its place on her shelf. With an annoyed sigh, she picked up the stone cold metal mirror, and looked into it. Four slanted red eyes appeared and she vanished from her room, into her mind.
It was a barren and desolate landscape. As far as the eye could see, a chilling wind whipped across the rocky terrain. It was unsteady, much like Raven herself. Everything in her mind represented a feature of Raven. The Evil eyes ravens represented the demonic Raven. But that was not important now. She rounded a corner, almost walking into Happiness, who seemed to be running from something. Raven gripped her emotion's shoulders and looked at Happiness's stricken face.
"What is it?" she asked, looking oddly at her own emotion. The emotion that was supposed to alleviate her woes was running from something.
"I-It…something's wrong." She said quietly, pointing towards Timidity's area. Raven ran forth and fell to the ground as it began to shake. Erupting from the ground was the most evil form she had ever seen besides her father. Slade, laughing manically rose from the ground in her mind.
"No!" she screamed, running forward. He was still laughing when she arrived at his now full form.
"Oh Hello, dear." He said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She shrugged him off and jumped back several feet. No one touched her without paying the price.
"But….didn't Robin touch you Raven? What price did he pay?" Slade spat. Raven's mouth was agape.
"You heartless, cold, monster!" she shrieked, throwing herself forward. He caught her arm and twisted it behind her back. His face was close to hers.
"I can say the same about you." He said, pushing her away. She stumbled but recovered swiftly.
"I thought you couldn't hurt me physically." She said, rubbing her arm.
"I didn't. You just think I did." He said this, and the pain in her arm was gone. Had it been a figment? When she looked up, Slade was gone, as though he had never been there. Happiness approached her.
"Hiya Raven!" she said cheerfully. Raven raised a brow.
"He just…disappeared." She said. Happiness looked puzzled.
"Who?" she asked.
"Slade!" Raven said angrily.
"Slade was not here, Raven…" she said, putting a hand on Raven's arm. "How could he be?"
"But….you saw, I saw…" Raven stammered, completely confused. She exited her mind as quickly as possible. When she came out of the mirror, she fell upon the floor of her room with a dull thud and did not move. She like Slade had said, had exerted herself fighting someone who 'was never really there'. The room darkened and she fell into sleep. Luckily, Slade did not come into her sleep. When Robin entered her room, she remained unconscious…or asleep. He had come in after several attempts to lure her from her room, remembering that she had not eaten since breakfast the day before.
"Raven!" he said breathlessly as he saw her on the floor of her room. He hurried towards her, turning her onto her back. Amethyst eyes opened halfway.
"Leave." She whispered. Robin was taken aback by this. Was she angry about the question he had asked?
"Raven, you're not well let me-"
"No!" She cut him off and rose to a sitting position. Her eyes widened as she saw Slade over his shoulder. He looked poised for attack. "Watch out!" she shrieked as Slade began to laugh. Robin turned and saw no one.
"What?" he asked, gripping Raven's shoulders. She looked from him, back to Slade.
"Just a figment, Raven." He laughed and disappeared. Raven screamed in rage as a lamp on her night table exploded.
"What Raven?" he asked, shaking her lightly. Her gaze refocused on him.
"Don't touch me." She growled. He backed away from her, and looked around again.
"I just want to help, Rae." He said in a gentle tone.
"You can't help me!" she said, her voice barely audible. His heart broke for her.
"Raven, just tell me what can help you and I'll." He stopped at the dead expression upon her face.
"Nothing can." A shadow fell over her face as she raised her hood.
