I'm sorry I take so long to update. You wouldn't believe how busy I am. Now, I know lots of people say this, but let me tell you why: Every day I go to school, then I have basketball practice or a game, which leaves me to get home anywhere between 6 and 9 at night. When I do in fact get home, I have to do a bunch of homework and studying, and most of the time it's not even finished. Although I may sound complainy and boring to listen to, I'm sure you want to hear the story. My apologies. Here it is.

Disclaimer I don't own Teen Titans. A bunch of really lucky, smart people do. Although, if they were really smart, they'd make Robin and Starfire get together, kill Terra completely, and put this episode on the show.


Raven walked home silently. The moon hung limply in the air that was thick with city odor, as well as a smoky fog. Titans Tower was a blemish on the surface of murkiness that spread through the harbor, and one looking out to sea was met with a face full of chalk, dusty smoke.

Raven's porcelain skin stuck with cold sweat. The midnight hour brought beads of moisture on her face, dripping down from nervousness and excitement at the same time. Her day with Figaro was intensive, electrifying, and if she was bold enough to admit, fun. Meeting another with the same interests, views and passions was a rare thing to find, and not just for Raven, but for anyone.


Flashback

Raven was sitting under a shady tree in the park, holding the book Figaro had been reading when they met.

"Alright, who do you think was the most philosophically astounding character in any work of literature you've read?" Figaro was sitting beside her, leaning on the base of the tree, twiddling a twig between his fingers. His russet eyes were shut tight in thought, as if recollecting a passage in a book or remembering a history lesson once taught.

"Hmmm….." Raven hummed, looking deeply at the ground. "That's a good question. I don't know. What do you think?"

He smiled. Raven looked at him in puzzlement, as if hanging on his every word. "I hoped you might ask me. I think Sestra of 'Mind of Mine'."

Raven looked disappointed. Figaro could hear it on her face, even though his eyes were still shut. "I know what you are feeling. Disappointment. Well, if you think about it, Sestra was a character of conviction. Even though she lost her eyesight in the final battle of the Fiends, she still maintained her stature of most powerful witch in the eastern hemisphere."

"But she also lost her hearing and both her legs. She was then burned in the town square for her witchcraft and treachery to her own kind."

"Yes, but do you remember her final words?"

A hidden smirk tugged at Raven's lips. "Nothing dead -."

"-Truly dies, for that which dies leaves a tie to the earth." He finished. He opened his eyes and looked at her adoringly. Raven's skin crawled from his smile. It held secrets, yet it was honest and loyal. His charm made her knees grow weak, something she would never, ever admit to her friends. He took her hand in his, held it for a second, and then for a brief moment in time, actually lifted her hand up and touched his lips to it. Blushing crimson, Raven pulled her hood up over her face and held it, letting a squirrel's supply of acorns explode.


She blushed again at the recollection. Figaro held a certain power over her that made her feel both powerless and special. They had spent hours together, discussing books, poetry, history and even music, with conversations as strange as could be. However, the whole time, Raven had not revealed to Figaro her amazing powers. This was because for the first time she actually felt comfortable just being herself. Just being Raven.

She wrapped her cloak around herself, approaching Titans Tower. She lifted off the ground, feeling the cold chill brush away the wetness on her cheeks. But even as she flew through the air, thinking only of the afternoon that occurred and the interview she would endure when she got home, she did not sense that someone was still watching her from behind the vast fog.

Raven entered the main room of the Tower when all of a sudden, she a felt a wave of sound crash against her chest.

"Where have you been?" said the robust Cyborg.

"Are you okay, Raven?" said the brave Robin.

"What happened, friend?" said the perky Starfire.

Just as she was about to answer, she noticed Beast Boy wasn't even annoying her. He wasn't standing right there bombarding her with questions. Neither was he pointing a finger in her face, nor calling her late, tardy, or any other synonym. He was playing game station. Just when Raven felt relieved to have not all of them interrogating her, Beast Boy jumped up and was at her side.

"Raven, where did you go?"

"Et tu?" Raven said tiredly, holding up her hands in frustration. "I was out. I'm back now, and if you don't mind I would like to retire to my room in peace."

The four other titans stared after the dark girl in suspicion and worry. Raven, the mystery of all of them, led a life of humbleness and heroicness, and yet left no time for explanation of her actions or feelings. But, as all of them knew, Raven was one to be left to her thoughts, and although they deeply desired to follow, they restrained themselves and let her go.

Robin turned around and headed back to the living room. "Let's leave her alone. It's none of our business where she's been."

Beast Boy looked flabbergasted. "What are you talking about? Of course it's our business! She's our friend and she should tell us everything!"

"Since when was that in effect?" said Cyborg with a shrug.

"Since…." Beast Boy looked to the ceiling in thought, but stopped, scratching his head, when he knew he was corrected. "Alright, maybe never. That still doesn't mean she should just leave for the day and come back like she never left! What if she fought someone? What if she was attacked, or…"

"BB, chill," Cyborg interrupted, putting a hand on his bud. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think…." Cyborgs face sentence trailed off as a wicked smile alit his face, leaving Beast Boy to ask

"Huh?"

Robin came over to them, smiling as big as Cyborg. "What?" Beast Boy asked again. Shaking their heads in amusement, the two male titans left the room, heading for their own private quarters. Starfire, clearly not understanding their amusement, walked up to the changeling and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Fear not, Beast Boy. Everything will be as it should in the morning. Pleasant dreams, don't let the sleep bugs bite." As Starfire left the room, the sliding door shutting behind her, the corner of Beast Boy lips moved slowly into a grin. "Now I see why Robin has such a thing for her."


The next morning was gloomy and the clouds crowded the sky with shades of gray and navy. The day looked dreary and odd, the waves crashing onto the shores of the Titan beach. As you looked out the stained glass windows of Titans Tower you could see the tide roll in roughly and the sky threaten the world with approaching thunder and rain. Today was not cheerful, but it would do perfectly for Raven.

As Raven drifted from her room that morning, the titans could already hear the thunder roll and crash and the soft pitter pattering of rain upon the rooftop. The sweet smell of rain began to waft into the tower and soak the air with moisture and dampness.

"I guess we won't be battling today," said Robin as he dragged himself over to the coach and plopped down.

"Or training outside," said Starfire with an air of unhappiness, joining the boy wonder on the coach.

"We could always play game station," Cyborg volunteered, "or watch TV."

"We always play game station, and watch TV too," Robin said with a grumble.

"Perhaps we could spend the day 'hanging out'?" Starfire said with hopefulness in her voice.

"Maybe, Star," Robin said gently, "It's strange, there's been no villainy, no suspicious crimes, and no returns of anyone. Why has crime just stopped?"

"Maybe they finally figured out no one can beat the Teen Titans?" asked Cyborg with a grin.

"Or maybe they just figure we have no idea what someone's doing," said the approaching Raven. The whole time she had been standing in the doorway, unnoticed. Only when she spoke did all of the Titans rise from the sofa.

"Raven, are you…?"

"Fine," Raven answered Robin. She floated over to the kitchen, a secret in her heart and a thirst for tea on her lips. As she prepared her beverage, Beast Boy wondered into the room, sitting on the counter.

"Hi…." He opened with.

"Hi," Raven said curtly.

"So, Raven. How was your day yesterday?"

As the hot water slowly filled the cup, Raven lifted her eyes away and looked suspiciously at the green one. "Why?"

"Why...what?" Beast Boy asked innocently.

"Why are you nosing into my business all the time?"

Jaw dropped, Beast Boy looked disbelieving. "Okay, now what are YOU talking about?"

Scowling, Raven removed the chipped mug from the faucet and headed towards the cabinet to search for a teabag. She looked up and spotted the container of teabags, stood on the tips of her toes, reaching for a bag. Sighing, she tried to reach for several seconds before realizing she could levitate and reach one. Coming back down, she impatiently turned her face to Beast Boy, who stood right next to her. "Think about it. Every time something happens to me that's unusual, you won't leave me alone. It's my life, I'll do what I want."

"You don't get it, do you?" he asked, frustrated. "We only care about you! We're only trying to help!"

"I can take care of myself," she answered quietly.

"No, you can't!" Beast Boy yelled back.

Raven's eyes widened at his remark. Slowly and angrily, Raven set the mug on the counter and turned on her heel, heading out of the room.

"Raven, wait, I didn't mean it like-," but he didn't get a chance to say what he didn't mean. For when he finished his sentence, Raven had walked into the wall and into her portal of gloom. As Beast Boy turned back to the counter, he noticed three faces staring at him, glaring. "Look, it's not my fault!"

"Like anything ever is…." Robin murmured. He turned back around and continued talking with the other two, just as Raven's mug grew back and shattered.


The day wore on. Raven stayed locked in her room and the others moped around and did nothing. As night began to fall, the lightning and thunder of the midnight sky became only more violent and infuriated. Crashes of light and sound filled the dark hallways and rooms of the tower, yet Raven did not let fear consume her. She was too busy with her other emotion, anger.

"Azarath Metrion Zynthos," she said through clenched teeth. Her demeanor of meditation not only showed the way she felt but also did not help calm her aggravation. Why do I let him get to me? He's only one person. How could I have ever thought that we could at last be friends?

Raven shut her eyes and continued to float in the air. It was then that it happened. As she explored the emotional surroundings, she could feel five energy emitters, unlike the normal four. One was anger, deep uncontrollable fire that flooded the soul. Another was concern, innocent and real. Yet another was worry, more desperate than concern. The last was a mixture, powerful and strong, unlike any Raven had felt in a long time, and it blinded her. It was triumph, but not only that. It was also lust, a craving and a disease, and it frightened her. What could have such power to emit such strong feelings?

As she pondered this, a low knock echoed throughout the entire tower. Cyborg, who was nearing the entrance itself, curiously looked towards the gigantic doors. He stared questionably, his human eye never leaving the door. He checked his scanner with his robotic eye, and discovered that it was a human, but more than that. Thinking it was one of their friends, Cyborg opened the doors slowly.


Thanks to those who have reviewed. I've decided to mention those who have reviewed, seeing that I don't have time (I'm sorry I'm such a party-pooper) to answer them. Although they're few, forgive me: snow child yukiko-chan and Raidersrule76.

Alrighty, let's get a-reviewing!

Til next time,

StakeMeSpike04